Toyota's Woven City: A $10 Billion Living Laboratory for Future Mobility

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Exploring Innovations in Autonomous Transportation and Robotics in Japan / AP


Toyota, the renowned Japanese automaker, is embarking on an ambitious project called Woven City, a futuristic $10 billion living laboratory situated near the iconic Mount Fuji. This innovative city aims to serve as a testing ground for advanced technologies, focusing on robotics, artificial intelligence, and autonomous zero-emission transportation solutions. Encompassing a total area of 294,000 square meters upon completion, Woven City represents a significant investment in the future of mobility and urban living.

The initial phase of Woven City, covering 47,000 square meters, has recently reached completion. Toyota plans to welcome its first residents, primarily employees and their families, by fall 2025. The city is designed to eventually accommodate up to 2,000 inhabitants, including external inventors and their families, fostering a collaborative environment for innovation. Renowned architect Bjarke Ingels is behind the city’s design, which incorporates infrastructure specifically tailored for autonomous vehicles. This includes a network of underground passageways that will facilitate the movement of these vehicles, allowing them to perform tasks such as garbage collection and delivery services.

Daisuke Toyoda, a key executive from the founding family of Toyota, emphasized that Woven City should not be categorized as a conventional smart city. Instead, he described it as a specialized test course for mobility technologies, differentiating it from typical real estate development projects. This unique approach reflects Toyota's commitment to advancing mobility solutions while addressing challenges associated with urban living.

Woven City's construction commenced in 2021 on the site of a former Toyota auto manufacturing plant, with the vision of creating a collaborative space where researchers and startups can converge to exchange ideas. This initiative aligns with the growing trend of futuristic city projects, although many have faced difficulties or remain incomplete. Examples include Alphabet's proposals in Toronto, the ambitious Neom project in Saudi Arabia, and Masdar City adjacent to Abu Dhabi's airport.

As the city continues to develop, the first group of residents, referred to as “weavers,” will consist of 100 individuals working for Toyota and partner companies, including well-known brands like Nissin and Daikin. These early residents will experience a unique lifestyle supported by autonomous services, as evidenced by the presence of an autonomous bus serving hot coffee in a public square surrounded by unoccupied apartment buildings.

The naming of Woven City pays homage to Toyota’s origins as a manufacturer of automatic textile looms, a legacy that dates back to Sakichi Toyoda, Daisuke's great-great-grandfather, who sought to simplify life for his mother, a manual loom operator. Despite the city's focus on cutting-edge technologies, Toyota has been slower to adopt electric vehicle solutions compared to competitors like Tesla and BYD, preferring to champion hydrogen as the primary energy source for Woven City.

Toyota officials have acknowledged that the project is unlikely to yield immediate financial returns, as the company prioritizes innovation over profit in this context. Keisuke Konishi, an auto analyst at the Quick Corporate Valuation Research Center, believes that Toyota aims to develop robotic transportation solutions that can rival Google’s Waymo. With the financial resources at their disposal, Toyota is positioned to explore these ambitious goals, paving the way for the future of mobility and urban living.

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