Toyota unveils the first phase of its Woven City, featuring advanced technology such as robots for deliveries and smart residential buildings, aimed at creating a futuristic, sustainable urban environment.
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| The first phase of Toyota’s Woven City is revealed, with a 100-meter tunnel for robot deliveries, self-driving technology, and plans for 2,000 residents in a cutting-edge urban space. Image Courtesy: Yomiuri Shimbun/ JN |
Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan — February 24, 2025:
Toyota Motor Corp. has officially unveiled the first phase of its ambitious Woven City project, a 50,000-square-meter advanced technology hub located in Susono, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. The city, set to be a testbed for innovations in transportation, artificial intelligence, and sustainable living, was showcased to the press on Saturday, marking a significant step in its development, reads a Japan News post.
The first phase includes around 10 residential buildings, research facilities, and a central courtyard designed to foster collaboration between researchers and future residents. At the heart of this phase is the Kakezan Invention Hub, a two-story, glass-walled facility where researchers will introduce new technologies and services to residents, gathering feedback on their real-world applications.
One of the most exciting features of the first phase is a 100-meter underground tunnel that will serve as a delivery route for robots. These robots will transport mail and packages to the residents, showcasing Toyota’s vision of a future where robotics and automation play a significant role in daily life.
The courtyard, designed with landscaping and equipped with utility poles, will allow for further testing of advanced services, with power outlets and network cables set up to support ongoing experiments in AI and other cutting-edge technologies. The site’s infrastructure also supports Toyota’s goal of creating a sustainable and highly efficient urban environment.
Woven City, which began construction in 2021 on the site of a former factory, aims to integrate self-driving vehicles, AI, and smart technologies into an eco-friendly, connected living space. The first phase of the futuristic city is scheduled to open this autumn, and several companies, including Daikin Industries, Nissin Food Products, and UCC Japan, have announced their involvement in the project’s demonstration experiments.
Toyota’s long-term plan for Woven City is to eventually house about 2,000 residents, serving as a model for future cities that embrace technology to improve quality of life. Daisuke Toyoda, head of the Woven City initiative, expressed his commitment to creating a safer and more secure mobility society through the project’s continued development.
The Woven City represents Toyota’s bold vision for the future of urban living, where technology and sustainability intersect to create an innovative, interconnected, and more efficient environment for all.