Sony Honda Mobility will offer digital license plates as an official accessory on the upcoming Afeela 1 electric sedan, making it one of the first production cars to launch with a factory-backed electronic plate option.
The system comes via a partnership with Reviver, the company behind the RPlate, and is set to be available when the Afeela 1 reaches early customers in 2026. It is another example of how Sony and Honda are using the car’s connected platform to add services on top of the core EV hardware that is already entering pre-production at Honda’s Ohio operations.
Digital Plates as a Connected Accessory
The Reviver RPlate replaces a conventional metal tag with a monochrome digital display integrated into the rear plate surround. Owners manage registration, renewals and custom text via a connected smartphone app, and the plate hardware includes LTE connectivity, GPS and anti-tamper features. In supported states, drivers can skip physical stickers and some DMV visits, while the connected back end can push special messages such as a “stolen” status if the car is reported missing.
For Afeela buyers, the digital plate will be installed and supported through Sony Honda Mobility’s accessory program rather than being a third-party add-on, fitting the broader approach of the new electric sedan.
Limited Rollout, High-Tech Positioning
Reviver plates are only fully approved for private motorists in a handful of U.S. states, so availability will depend on where an Afeela is registered. Even so, Sony Honda Mobility clearly sees value in making the hardware part of the official options list from day one, alongside the sedan’s extensive driver-assistance, infotainment and over-the-air update capabilities.
The Afeela 1 itself is pitched as a mid-size electric sedan with dual-motor all-wheel drive and a tech-heavy interior built around large displays and high compute power, raising the question of how it will stack up against established rivals.
Sony Honda Mobility
Convenience, Customization and Privacy Questions
Factory-backed digital plates could appeal to early adopters who like the idea of remote registration, theft alerts and customizable displays that can show approved slogans or messages along the bottom of the plate. At the same time, bolting a connected, trackable device to the outside of the car raises familiar concerns about privacy and cybersecurity, especially when it is tied into an app ecosystem and cloud services.
Sony Honda Mobility’s decision to offer the RPlate as an accessory on the Afeela 1 puts those questions on the table from launch, and gives buyers one more futuristic touch on an EV that is already trying to distinguish itself as much with software and services as with traditional specs.
