Sony Releases EV Concept, but Samsung’s EV is Already Being Sold
[Jan. 7, 2020]
At the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nev., Sony shocked attendees with the unveiling of its Vision-S EV concept (seen above). The company’s press release says it all:
“Sony's efforts in the area of mobility – such as pursuing safety, reliability, comfort and entertainment – are being positioned as a new initiative, named ‘VISION-S.’ The first prototype vehicle to result from ‘VISION-S’ will be showcased at the Sony booth. This prototype incorporates Sony's imaging and sensing technologies, as well as on-board software regulated using Sony’s AI, telecommunication and cloud technologies, in order to continuously update and evolve its features.”
“A total of 33 sensors including CMOS image sensors and ToF sensors are embedded within the vehicle, in order to detect and recognize people and objects inside and outside the car, and provide highly advanced driving support. Sony's ‘360 Reality Audio’ provides a deep and immersive audio experience through speakers built into each seat to encapsulate passengers in sound. The front seats face a panoramic screen on which rich and diverse content can be enjoyed through an intuitive user interface. Sony will continue to combine its advanced technologies to deliver greater safety and reliability, while also striving to inspire new emotion through revolutionary in-car entertainment experiences.”
Sony didn’t release a production date for the vehicle, which is due to the Vision-S prototype presumably being purely a showcase of Sony’s automotive electronics prowess. This was spelled out when Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida said just prior to the car’s unveiling, “To deepen our understanding of cars in terms of their designs and technologies, we gave a shape to our Vision.” You can watch the entire press conference here.
So what’s next, an EV from Samsung?
Actually, that already happened.
Samsung Motors, a division of the multinational conglomerate Samsung, was established in 1994, and thanks to assistance from Nissan, the South Korean company began selling cars in 1998. Two years and a financial crisis later, Samsung Motors became a subsidiary of Renault, with the resulting company taking on the name Renault Samsung Motors (RSM). Samsung holds a minority stake in RSM. Then in 2012, RSM introduced its first EV, an electrified version of its SM3 sedan, the SM3 Z.E. (for zero emissions).
The SM3 Z.E. has done quite well for itself. Shortly after sales began in 2013, the SM3 Z.E. became South Korea’s leading EV, holding a 58% market share.
The Renault Samsung Motors SM3 Z.E. EV is on sale now, if you live in the right country.
The SM3 Z.E. underwent a redesign in 2017, with the range increasing from 84 miles to 132 miles via a 36 kWh battery. At the same time, RSM also noted that 1,200 of its EVs had been purchased by South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare, and that the SM3 Z.E. was also popular in Seoul, Daegu, and Jeju Island as an EV taxi. No specifics were offered regarding taxi sales numbers, although reports state that in 2015, RSM supplied roughly 100 EVs for use as taxis in South Korea.
In January 2019, the Renault Group stated that its EV sales had increased worldwide by just over 36% to 49,600 vehicles, making the Renault Group, which includes RSM, the European EV leader with slightly more than 22% market share. Renault Group’s January 2020 market statement about 2019 was less than forthcoming regarding its EV numbers.
Want to buy a “Samsung” EV? Unfortunately, the SM3 E.V. is only sold under the Renault Samsung Motors name in a handful of countries, and the U.S. is not one of them.
(Vision-S concept image courtesy Sony.)
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