Akihabara News — Toyota Motor has officially inaugurated its pioneering “Woven City” project, a smart city designed to redefine mobility and urban living. The first phase of the city, located at the base of Mount Fuji in Susono, Shizuoka Prefecture, has been completed and is now welcoming its initial residents.
Announced during CES 2025 in Las Vegas, the launch of Woven City marks a significant milestone in Toyota’s transformation from a traditional car manufacturer to a “mobility company.” The city, which seeks to test and develop new technologies in real-world settings, emphasizes sustainability and human-centric design.
The first residents, approximately a hundred in number, will primarily consist of Toyota staff and their families. They will move into the city this fall, with plans to expand the community to around 360 residents by the end of Phase 1. Eventually, Woven City aims to house up to two thousand people, including inventors and entrepreneurs from various fields.
Woven City has been designed with three types of streets: one for autonomous vehicles, another for mixed use including personal mobility devices and pedestrians, and a third exclusively for pedestrians. This innovative layout is intended to enhance safety and connectivity within the urban environment.
The city’s buildings, constructed with sustainable materials like wood, are equipped with the latest in smart home technology, including in-home robotics and health-monitoring AI systems. The infrastructure is powered by hydrogen fuel cells and solar energy, underlining Toyota’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
A notable aspect of Woven City is its collaborative approach, inviting inventors, startups, and academic institutions to participate through an accelerator program set to start in the summer of 2025. This initiative aims to foster innovation by providing a real-life testbed for new products and services.
Akio Toyoda, Toyota’s chairman, described Woven City not just as a place to live but as a “living laboratory” where residents actively participate in testing and refining new mobility concepts. The project has already garnered attention for its potential to influence future urban planning and mobility solutions globally.
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