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Sony pulled off a big surprise today at a press conference at CES 2020. While many were expecting the unveiling of the Playstation 5, Vision-S was presented - a concept car!
Nobody really expected that. We agree on that. So will Sony cars soon be driving around our streets? Who knows. The Sony Vision-S car serves a different purpose. It is intended to demonstrate the sensors and other technologies from Sony and make them more attractive to other car manufacturers. Some people call the Sony Vision-S concept car a kind of catalog and Sony may be hoping for such an effect.
We are in an age where the cars of the future, once only visible in our imaginations, are finally becoming a reality. It is not just the hardware in the form of cars that is changing. The conventions of our daily lives and society are also changing. Sony wants to reinvent mobility as we know it. How can we inspire people through mobility? How can we provide more peace of mind? How can we contribute to society and the environment? Sony will open up a new world of mobility with its creativity and technology. Sony exists as a citizen of society and the earth. We believe that there are new human lifestyles that go beyond the limits of new mobility. Sony will work directly towards this ideal.
Sony
Sony sensors are already in use in various vehicles - but there is definitely more to come. Around 33 sensors are installed in the Vision-S, which monitor the interior and exterior of the vehicle. Some are used for safety features such as obstacle and pedestrian avoidance, while others are integrated into the infotainment system.
Created in collaboration with Magna
The components are the best the company has to offer. For example, the Sony Vision-S has a 360-degree reality audio system that takes advantage of a closed space. But the displays are also impressive. One is installed in the full width of the dashboard, while two panels are in the center console and two more are available for the rear passengers. The Sony Vision-S is, of course, an electric car. Industry heavyweight Magna played an important role in its development - as Sony revealed. The actual performance and range were not revealed, however. It is very unlikely that Sony developed the Vision-S for more than a demonstration of the individual systems. It is notoriously difficult to get into the automotive industry - see Tesla. But as a supplier, the whole thing can be quite lucrative. It can therefore be assumed that Sony really just wants to use the Vision-S to better promote the individual technologies in order to attract more attention from individual car manufacturers. Whether the whole thing will succeed remains to be seen, of course. (Image: Sony)
