Sony Vision-S Concept

[Wolfgang]

From Walkman to electric vehicle

Magna also played a big part in one of the most surprising developments in the automotive sector – the launch of a new car by Sony, the electronics giant which never built a car before.

Sony is known for such iconic products as PlayStation game consoles, the Walkman and the aibo robot dog, stole the spotlight at the 2020 CES with its Vision-S electric prototype vehicle.

The unexpected vehicle was “the best surprise of CES,” according to The Verge, while Fortune declared that the Vision-S “won CES’s publicity contest this year”.

Working behind the scenes, Magna helped to make the Vision-S prototype vehicle a reality in a collaboration that had a James Bond feel, up until the moment the prototype was driven onto the CES stage in January.

Magna supported Sony in many areas, from engineering to integration with other suppliers. And it was Magna’s task to hand-build the Vision-S.

The Vision-S project started in spring 2018, and that’s when Sony approached Magna Steyr.

Sony officials were interested in stepping into the automotive business – and they asked Magna to handle almost the entire vehicle portfolio.

From the start, it was clear they wanted to gain an understanding of how to develop a vehicle, including core technologies such as ADAS and electric architecture.

The chassis of the Sony Vision-S electric vehicle


They also wanted a realistic approach, right down to the four-door coupe shape of the prototype. They wanted to show this prototype means serious business.

In spring 2018, Magna began collaboration on the Vision-S, with an engineering team, including many who are gamers in their spare time and could easily relate to their Sony counterparts.

Along the way, the Magna team learned some important lessons from Sony.

When you have new entrants into the automotive business, they ask a lot of questions. “Why do you do it that way?” was a familiar query throughout the Vision-S process.

It made Magna re-evaluate how it explains things to non-automotive people, what are the relevant processes and how to make the best documentation.

In the end, Magna says it discovered that it had “a lot in common” with Sony.

“It was so inspiring to work with engineers from another industry and see how they approach projects and challenges,” says Magna in a statement.

“All team members learned a lot from each other. We both see ourselves as mobility technology companies committed to accelerating the future of transportation, whatever shape that may take.”


roboticsandautomationnews.com/2020/06/30/magna-celebrates-significant-milestone-in-contract-manufacturing/33607/

 

[Rolf]

This would be a nice rival for the Model S. Good looking electric car and probably quite practical as well.

 

[dalab]

It seems that it will be done, but until I see it with my eyes I will believe it

April 16, 2021 06:00 PM UPDATED 10 HOURS AGO
How Magna Steyr balances customers ranging from BMW and Mercedes to Fisker and Sony

The Austria-based company that produces cars such as the full-electric Jaguar I-Pace, the iconic Mercedes G-Class and will soon add the Fisker Ocean SUV. In addition, Magna Steyr is helping Sony to become an automaker. Klein spoke with Automotive News Europe

After the success of the 2020 CES, Sony asked us to build more prototypes and to test this product. So, that's what we did. You probably have seen the videos of the car being driven in Austria. We'll certainly continue working with them.

How Magna Steyr balances customers ranging from BMW and Mercedes to Fisker and Sony

Magna Steyr President Frank Klein outlined how Fisker and Sony became customers for the contract manufacturer that already build cars for BMW, Toyota, Jaguar and Mercedes.

europe.autonews.com

 

[BorkLaser]

It would be cool. I would rather have this than some random Chinese cars or from whatever startup shit.

 

[dalab]

It would be cool. I would rather have this than some random Chinese cars or from whatever startup shit.

I think similar, and many people also for that reason I think they will.
Also many people underestimate the strength of a brand and its influence on the purchase, of course it can be a failure, but in the case of SONY they will surely go with everything to try to succeed

From selling Trinitrons and Walkmans to every human on the planet, to entering the console business out of nowhere and being number one since then to making Betamax and ......... well anything can happen

 

[Centurion]

In spring 2022 Sony will form a new business, Sony mobility inc, which will be used to enter the EV market.

I am sceptical about their entry into the EV market. Creating a prototype is easy. The biggest and more overlooked hurdles are:

-Hiring and harmonising talent
-Securing land for an assembly plant
-Securing an assembly partner or know-how
-Sourcing batteries or semi conductor chip
-Achieving volume production
-Achieving volume production at a cost per car that makes it a viable and sustainable business.

Fail or struggle at 2 of the above and your project will be dust.

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[CrunchSlaughtered]

Heavily inspired by the Model 3 and Y

 

[KiwiRob]

In spring 2022 Sony will form a new business, Sony mobility inc, which will be used to enter the EV market.

I am sceptical about their entry into the EV market. Creating a prototype is easy. The biggest and more overlooked hurdles are:

-Hiring and harmonising talent
-Securing land for an assembly plant
-Securing an assembly partner or know-how
-Sourcing batteries or semi conductor chip
-Achieving volume production
-Achieving volume production at a cost per car that makes it a viable and sustainable business.

Fail or struggle at 2 of the above and your project will be dust.

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For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

They've got most of that sorted with Magna Steyr helping with the development and I can imagine building the first models.

Sony manufacture semi conductors and until 2017 used to manufacture batteries.

Cities will be fighting to get the production location/s, there are numerous shutter former vehicle assembly plants all around the world just waiting to be refitted.

 

[Centurion]

They've got most of that sorted with Magna Steyr helping with the development and I can imagine building the first models.

The mention of Magna Steryn in the same sentence as a new EV brand or SPAC has frequently been misused for legitimacy. Magna are a not a magic wand that can transform an EV on paper to a profitable car that's delivered into customers hands.

They are both a contract manufacturer and an engineering consultancy. What services a brand use is entirely up to them e.g prototype, assembly plant planning or production. Like most consultancies, Magna are not cheap to use. BMW use them for the production of some of their cars however the cost of the outsourcing is offset by heavy parts/component sharing.

As mentioned in my previous post, achieving profitable volume production is the greatest challenge. However, this doesn't mean that Sony won't succeed.

It will be interesting to hear how much money Sony will commit to funding Sony Mobility inc, and whether they will raise external funding.

 

[dalab]

QUOTE: "The video will be short"
*Funny reference of the presenter on the design of this car

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