From Bajaj Yulu e-bike to Sony Afeela, major EVs unveiled at CES 2023

Consumer Electronic Show (CES) 2023 held in Las Vegas this year witnessed unveiling of some interesting electric vehicles (EV).

India’s electric mobility player, Yulu which is participating in the ongoing CES, displayed its latest generation of electric vehicle for micro-mobility.

As opposed to the previous Chinese-origin model, the new Yulu e-bike is an original design by Bajaj. Bajaj, not only contributed to the production of e-bike parts, localised and toughened up the product for our environment, but this time, Bajaj has in fact created the Yulu e-bike from the scratch with people’s needs in mind. But as of yet, no technical information has been disclosed.

As per the co-founder and CEO of Yulu, Amit Gupta, “The Yulu e-bike is targeted at short intra-city commutes, last-mile deliveries and business requirements.”

Speaking of EVs, the CES saw one of the most sought after unveilings, the Afeela concept car developed jointly by consumer electronics giant Sony Corporation and Automaker Honda.

While not much is known about the new brand, but Sony Honda Mobility CEO, Yasuhide Mizuno said the car would leverage Sony’s experience with AI, entertainment, virtual reality, and augmented reality to present a unique EV.

As per some media reports, the Afeela logo appears on a narrow screen, or ‘media bar’ on the vehicle’s front bumper. This can also interact with people outside the vehicle and share information such as the weather or the battery charge.

According to Mizuno, Afeela will attempt to embody three main themes, including autonomy, augmentation, and affinity. Over 40 sensors, including cameras, radar, ultrasonic, and LiDAR, will be embedded all over the exterior of vehicle, enhancing its ability to detect objects and drive autonomously.

The new EV will be priced to compete with other premium automakers, like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volvo, and Audi. Sony has said it expects its software to offer subscription services, so vehicle owners will likely have to pay a monthly fee in order to access certain features.