"Toyota Woven City," a Test Course for Mobility, Completes Phase 1 Construction and Prepares for Launch
Rhea-AI Summary
Toyota Motor announced the completion of Phase 1 construction of Toyota Woven City, its mobility test course, with an official launch planned for fall 2025. Located in Susono City, Japan, Phase 1 construction was completed in October 2024 on a 50,000 sq. m site.
The project earned Japan's first LEED for Communities Platinum certification for its environmentally conscious design. The facility will host 'Inventors' - including Toyota Group companies and external partners - to develop and test innovative products and services. Several major companies including Daikin Industries, DyDo DRINCO, and NISSIN FOOD PRODUCTS are confirmed as inventors.
Initially, approximately 100 residents, primarily Toyota staff and families, will participate as 'Weavers' in co-creation activities. Phase 1 is projected to accommodate around 360 residents, with plans to expand to 2,000 residents in future phases. Public participation is expected to begin in FY2026.
Positive
- Completion of Phase 1 construction ahead of fall 2025 launch
- Earned LEED Platinum certification, demonstrating environmental excellence
- Secured partnerships with major companies as 'Inventors'
- Planned expansion to accommodate 2,000 residents in future phases
Negative
- initial resident capacity of only 100 people
- Public participation delayed until FY2026
- Significant investment required for ongoing construction of future phases
Insights
Toyota's Woven City represents a significant strategic investment in future mobility technology testing and development. The completion of Phase 1 construction, with a 50,000 sq. m footprint and capacity for 360 residents, establishes a real-world laboratory for testing advanced mobility solutions. The partnership with major companies like Daikin, NISSIN and UCC creates a diverse ecosystem for innovation beyond traditional automotive applications.
The project's business model is particularly noteworthy - by combining residential, commercial and R&D functions, Toyota creates a sustainable testing environment that generates real user data while spreading infrastructure costs across multiple revenue streams. The planned expansion to accommodate 2,000 residents indicates strong scaling potential.
The LEED Platinum certification for Woven City marks a important milestone in sustainable urban development. This project introduces a novel approach to city planning by integrating mobility testing with actual community living. The phased development strategy, starting with 100 initial residents and gradually expanding, allows for iterative improvements based on real-world feedback.
The repurposing of the former TMEJ Higashi-Fuji Plant demonstrates efficient land use while maintaining industrial capabilities through the new manufacturing hub. This dual-purpose approach maximizes asset utilization and creates a sustainable model for future smart city developments.
For Toyota shareholders, Woven City represents a strategic pivot that could significantly impact the company's long-term value proposition. The project positions Toyota to capture value not just from traditional automotive sales but from the broader mobility ecosystem, including data services and urban infrastructure solutions. The collaboration with diverse industry partners suggests multiple potential revenue streams.
While the immediate financial impact may be , the project's role as an innovation accelerator could drive significant future growth. The expansion into space mobility through the Interstellar Technologies investment further demonstrates Toyota's commitment to diversifying its revenue streams beyond traditional automotive markets.
Official launch scheduled for fall 2025
Toyota first announced its transformation into a mobility company at CES 2018 and, at CES 2020, unveiled the Woven City concept being developed in collaboration with Woven by Toyota ("WbyT") to demonstrate Toyota's long-term commitment to shaping the future of mobility.
Woven City has made steady progress since its groundbreaking ceremony on February 23, 2021, at the former site of Toyota Motor East Japan's ("TMEJ") Higashi-Fuji Plant in Susono City, Shizuoka Prefecture,
Woven City's Phase 1 has also previously been recognized for its environmentally conscious and human-centric design aimed at enhancing people's overall quality of life. It earned
Alongside Phase 1 preparations, renovation of a former TMEJ Higashi-Fuji Plant facility into a manufacturing hub for Woven City is underway, and site preparation work for Phase 2 has commenced. Insights from Phase 1 will help refine plans for Phase 2 and future phases, and continually enhance the test course's functionality.
Woven City is a test course for mobility where "Inventors" who share a commitment to working "for someone other than themselves" can develop, test, and validate innovative products and services. These inventors include Toyota and Toyota Group companies, such as WbyT, as well as external companies, startups, and individual entrepreneurs. By leveraging Toyota's decades-long manufacturing expertise and WbyT's software capabilities, Woven City offers a unique environment equipped with the tools and services needed to tackle societal challenges and create future-focused value. Through collaboration among inventors and feedback from residents and visitors, Woven City aims to drive innovation and shape a better tomorrow.
The inventors of Woven City who have been confirmed so far are as follows.
Inventors
Company | Business Description | Theme of Co-Creation | ||
Manufacturing, sales and after-sales services of air conditioning products, fluorochemical products, etc. | Testing "pollen-free spaces" and "personalized functional environments" | |||
Manufacturing and sales of soft drinks and other beverages, etc. | Creating new value through innovative vending machine concepts | |||
Manufacturing and sales of instant noodles and related products, etc. | Creating and evaluating food environments to inspire new 'food cultures' | |||
UCC Japan Co., Ltd. | Regional headquarters of Japanese operating companies engaged in coffee manufacturing and sales | Exploring the potential value of coffee through futuristic cafe experiences
| ||
Comprehensive education services offering correspondence education and classroom programs | Leveraging data to realize innovative educational methods and new learning environments | |||
Alphabetical order as of January 7, 2025 | ||||
Woven City is also in continued discussions with previously announced companies such as ENEOS Corporation, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT), and Rinnai Corporation.
External startups, entrepreneurs, universities and research institutions are also scheduled to be invited to Woven City through an accelerator program, starting in summer 2025.
Residents and visitors will play an equally vital role alongside inventors in Woven City. Known as 'Weavers,' these individuals share a passion for the 'expansion of mobility' and a commitment to building a more flourishing society. Through their participation in co-creation activities, Weavers will contribute to realizing the full potential of Woven City.
At the official launch of Woven City, starting in fall 2025 or thereafter, approximately 100 residents — primarily Toyota and WbyT staff and their families — are expected to participate in co-creation activities as the first residents. The community will then gradually expand to include external inventors and their families. Phase 1 is projected to accommodate around 360 residents, with the total population, including Phase 2 and subsequent phases, expected to reach approximately 2,000. Initially, visitors will be limited to related parties, with plans to welcome the general public to participate as Weavers in co-creation activities starting in FY2026 or thereafter.
Woven City also serves as a test course for Toyota's transformation into a mobility company. Together, Toyota and WbyT aim to redefine mobility, expanding its scope beyond transportation to encompass the movement of people, goods, information, and energy for the benefit of individuals and society. Designed as a human-centered city, Woven City places the people who gather there — Inventors and Weavers — at its center to unlock new possibilities in the shared pursuit of "Well-being for All". With an eye on expanding mobility from land, sea, and air to space, WbyT also announced an investment in Interstellar Technologies Inc. and will leverage Toyota's expertise to support the mass production of rockets.
Woven City Phase 1 Basic Information
Address | 1117 Mishuku, Susono City, Shizuoka, (Former site of the TMEJ Higashi-Fuji plant) |
Site Area | Approx. 50,000 sq. m (approx.708,000 sq. m in total in the future) |
Main Timeline | ● January 7, 2020: Concept announced at CES 2020 ● February 23, 2021: Phase 1 Groundbreaking Ceremony. Start of site preparation work in March 2021 ● October 10, 2022: Phase1 Safety Prayer Ceremony. Start of building work for Phase 1 in November 2022 ● October 31, 2024: Completion of Phase 1 construction ● Starting in Fall 2025 or thereafter: Phase 1 official launch |
Residents | From fall 2025 or thereafter, Toyota and Toyota-related personnel will begin to move in, and in Phase 1, a total of approximately 360 people are scheduled to live there (in the future, the number of residents is expected to expand to 2,000 people in all areas) |
1. LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and refers to a system for evaluating the environmental performance of buildings and cities operated by the
About Woven by Toyota
Woven by Toyota, a part of the Toyota Group, is challenging the current state of mobility through human-centric innovation and empowering mobility transformation. Through our AD/ADAS technology, our automotive software development platform Arene OS, our mobility test course Toyota Woven City, and Toyota's growth fund, Woven Capital, we are pioneering the movement of people, goods, information, and energy, weaving a future of enhanced safety, connectivity and well-being for all.
About Toyota Motor Corporation
Toyota Motor Corporation works to develop and manufacture innovative, safe and high-quality products and services that create happiness by providing mobility for all. We believe that true achievement comes from supporting our customers, partners, employees, and the communities in which we operate. Since our founding over 80 years ago in 1937, we have applied our Guiding Principles in pursuit of a safer, greener and more inclusive society. Today, as we transform into a mobility company developing connected, automated, shared and electrified technologies, we also remain true to our Guiding Principles and many of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals to help realize an ever-better world, where everyone is free to move.
SDGs Initiatives: https://global.toyota/en/sustainability/sdgs/
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in
Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in
For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
Media Contacts
Olivia Boisineau-Beckett
olivia.boisineau-beckett@toyota.com
734.834.0885
Rick Bourgoise
richard.bourgoise@toyota.com
(313) 405-5972
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/toyota-woven-city-a-test-course-for-mobility-completes-phase-1-construction-and-prepares-for-launch-302343417.html
SOURCE Toyota Motor Corporation
FAQ
When will Toyota (TM) Woven City Phase 1 officially launch?
How many residents will Toyota's (TM) Woven City accommodate in Phase 1?
What companies are confirmed as inventors for Toyota's (TM) Woven City?
When will the public be able to participate in Toyota's (TM) Woven City activities?
What is the total site area of Toyota's (TM) Woven City project?
