Toyota's vision for a futuristic, technology-driven city is becoming a reality. As revealed at CES 2025 by Toyota Motor Chairman Akio Toyoda, Woven City—a 175-acre city located at the foot of Mount Fuji—is now officially open for business. Toyota is inviting global innovators and startups to join the project, which aims to foster co-creation and advance cutting-edge technologies.

According to a report from the Economic Times, Toyoda emphasized that the city, scheduled to begin operations by fall 2025, is not just a tech hub but a "living laboratory" where people can work and experiment with ideas in an environment that nurtures innovation.

Toyoda, speaking at CES, extended an invitation to anyone with an interest in making a difference to join the Woven City initiative. “Please consider this your official invitation to join us at Woven City,” he said. The company is also launching a pitch competition this summer and offering scholarships to startups or individuals needing financial support for their projects.

First introduced at CES 2020, the concept of Woven City was initially seen as a utopian city where Toyota's autonomous technology would be fully integrated. Over time, the vision has expanded to include a broader array of technologies. For example, Toyota is now exploring electric air taxis, autonomous vehicle technology, and even rockets. Toyoda has shared Toyota’s recent $500 million investment in Joby Aviation, which is focused on air taxi innovation, further signaling the company's commitment to futuristic technologies.

Notably, Toyoda also announced that Woven City would incorporate rockets to help build essential telecommunications infrastructure for autonomous vehicles. Toyota has already made a 7 billion yen ($44 million) investment into Interstellar Technologies Inc., a startup working on rockets. Despite the ambitious nature of these investments, Toyoda acknowledged that the primary goal of Woven City is not necessarily profit. “Will it make Toyota any money? Maybe not, but that’s okay,” Toyoda said during the presentation. “As global citizens, Toyota has a responsibility to invest in our collective future.”

Woven City’s development began in February 2021 at the site of Toyota Motor East Japan’s former Higashi-Fuji Plant in Susono City. Phase one includes buildings designed for collaboration between employees, scientists, entrepreneurs, and retirees. Toyota is also working on converting a former plant facility into a manufacturing hub for future projects.

Already, several inventors and startups, such as WbyT, have joined the Woven City initiative, along with companies like ENEOS Corporation, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, and Rinnai Corporation, which Toyota is in talks with. The first phase of development is aimed at understanding what works best for the city, with a focus on refining the design for future growth.

SOURCE: TECHCRUNCH | PHOTO: AUTONEWS