Toyota Motor Corporation has officially completed Phase One of its ambitious Woven City project. Unveiled at CES 2025, Woven City represents Toyota’s vision of a prototype "town of the future," designed as a living laboratory for developing and testing advanced technologies. Situated at the base of Mount Fuji in Japan, this future-focused urban environment aims to seamlessly integrate sustainability, mobility, and cutting-edge advancements into everyday life.
Key innovations and research areas
Woven City’s focus encompasses a wide array of technologies, from autonomous vehicles to robotics. Toyota has already begun exploring autonomous logistics and transportation remedies utilizing its e-Palette, alongside advanced mobility solutions such as personal mobility devices, personal safety drones, and even flying cars. In collaboration with Joby Aviation, Toyota envisions enabling fast and traffic-free air travel between Woven City and Tokyo. Another major research area revolves around in-home robotics. These robots, designed to assist with daily tasks, learn and adapt through camera-based human demonstrations. During his CES presentation, Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda highlighted a robot that learned to fold a T-shirt, showcasing how technology can streamline household activities.
Artificial intelligence plays a pivotal role in Woven City’s vision. By integrating real-world and digital environments, Toyota aims to accelerate the development of new technologies. AI systems analyze video data to understand human behavior and optimize interactions between people and machines. Additionally, virtual avatars and digital twins offer innovative ways for residents and visitors to engage with the city.
A living laboratory for innovation
Announced in 2020 and breaking ground in 2021, Woven City is more than just a place to live, work, and play. It serves as a hub for inventors, scientists, and entrepreneurs from around the world, providing a secure real-world setting for testing innovations. The resident population will include Toyota employees and their families, industry partners, visiting researchers, and retailers, all actively participating in shaping future technologies. As each development phase progresses, the population is expected to grow to approximately 2,000 people.
Toyota Chairman, Akio Toyoda, has described Woven City as a "test course for mobility," emphasizing its crucial role in exploring new solutions across four primary research areas: the mobility of people, goods, information, and energy. The city's design places a strong emphasis on sustainability and aims for low to zero-emission transportation, earning Japan’s first LEED Platinum certification for a community.
Sustainable urban living
Sustainability is a cornerstone of Woven City’s design. All transportation within the city operates on low to zero-emission vehicles. The community’s infrastructure supports clean energy and efficient resource use, creating an eco-friendly environment where technological progress aligns with environmental responsibility. Homes in Woven City are equipped with state-of-the-art systems that enable them to serve as testing grounds for future technologies. These features include energy management tools and automated systems designed to enhance daily living while minimizing environmental impact.
Collaboration and global reach
Collaboration is essential to Woven City's success. Toyota established Woven by Toyota, an independent company tasked with overseeing the project. With 2,200 team members from over 60 countries, Woven by Toyota aims to create human-centric technologies that expand mobility and enhance well-being. The company also focuses on developing new operating systems for cars, AI-based tools, and a digital twin platform for simulating and refining real-world interactions. In addition to its technological ambitions, Woven City fosters entrepreneurship and innovation through initiatives like its pitch competition, which offers fully funded scholarships to startups and individuals, promoting diverse contributions to the city’s growth and success.
Building a future beyond mobility
For Toyota, Woven City represents more than just a business venture; it is a commitment to shaping a better future. Akio Toyoda emphasized that the project aims to "weave together diverse points of view, talents, and abilities" to create a new kind of fabric for society. In his 2021 press conference video, Toyoda expressed his belief that, “as a global society we need to come together to heal, to grow, to learn, and to create new possibilities for a collective future.” By investing in pioneering technologies and sustainable practices, Toyota seeks to move not only people but also hearts, fostering a global community dedicated to innovation and progress.