A year back we got our first look at the Sony Vision-S. This sleek EV represents Sony's vision of an autonomous electric sedan that could compete with cars such as the Tesla Model S, utilizing Sony's advanced AI, cloud, and telecommunications tech. In August last year the Vision-S arrived in Tokyo, despite whispers that the car would never see the light of day, and earlier this month Sony released a video of the car in motion for the 2021 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The company had previously stated that it would not be producing the Vision-S. However, the car will be used as a testbed for its autonomous driving tech and Playstation for cars, and remains in continuous development.

In a recent interview with Car and Driver, a Sony spokesperson said that the car will not be destined for the consumer market, but will instead be used as a testing platform for the company's autonomous driving technology:

"At present, we have no plans to mass-produce or sell the vehicle. With mobility expected as a major megatrend into the future, we're exploring how Sony can contribute in a meaningful way to the era of autonomous driving."

This is disappointing news, as the car is certainly a looker, and features advanced tech such as a planned level 4 driver-assistance system, meaning minimal input from the driver to steer the car.

Sony is also known for its audio tech, and the Vision-S includes "360 Reality Audio" which creates a cocoon of sound around occupants' heads, and with an estimated 536 horsepower it is no slouch either.

Sony might be missing out on a massive opportunity here as rival tech giant Apple gets ready to launch its own EV as soon as 2024, but at least the car will continue to contribute to the development of new automotive tech, instead of gathering dust in a museum.