Last year, Sony shocked the auto industry when it unveiled the Vision S at the Consumer Electronics Show, a sleek electric concept car with autonomous driving technology. Sadly, Sony confirmed it has no plans to put the Vision S into production and take on the Tesla Model S, so don't get your hopes up that the Japanese tech giant is entering the auto industry just yet. This is a shame because it would have been great to see Sony go head-to-head with Apple's first electric car.

Instead, Sony has said the Vision S will be used as a "development vehicle" to test the company's autonomous driving technology, so it won't be going to waste.

Earlier this year, Sony released new video footage of the Vision S in action, and now our spy photographers have caught Sony testing the Vision S on a test track.

Visually, the prototype looks identical to the car shown in the video and has the same livery. It isn't clear exactly why Sony is testing the Vision S again but the Japanese company has promised the Vision S will be used to "contribute in a meaningful way to the era of autonomous driving," suggesting it will allow other automakers to utilize its driving technology.

When the concept was unveiled, Sony envisioned the EV with advanced Level 4 autonomous technology that utilizes cameras and 40 sensors that scan the surrounding environment. Inside, the futuristic cabin features a large full-width touchscreen with artificial intelligence, telecommunication, and cloud technology.

A pair of 268-hp electric motors combine to produce 536 hp, enabling the Vision S concept to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 149 mph. We're looking forward to seeing how Sony can innovate autonomous driving technology in the future, but it's still disappointing that this elegant electric sedan won't enter production.