Toyota's $10 Billion Woven City: A Futuristic Test Bed for AI, Robotics, and Autonomous Mobility

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On Sat, 22 Feb, 4:01 PM UTC

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Toyota unveils Woven City, a $10 billion project near Mount Fuji, designed to test cutting-edge technologies including AI, robotics, and autonomous vehicles in a real-world setting.

Toyota Unveils Woven City: A $10 Billion Testbed for Future Mobility

Japanese automaker Toyota has taken a bold step into the future with the unveiling of Woven City, a $10 billion project near Mount Fuji designed to test cutting-edge technologies in a real-world setting. The ambitious initiative aims to explore everyday living with robotics, artificial intelligence, and autonomous zero-emissions transportation 1.

Not Just Another Smart City

Daisuke Toyoda, an executive from the automaker's founding family overseeing the project, emphasizes that Woven City is not a typical "smart city." Instead, it's conceived as a "test course for mobility," distinguishing itself from real estate development projects 2.

Scale and Scope of the Project

The first phase of Woven City spans 47,000 square meters (506,000 square feet), equivalent to about five baseball fields. Upon completion, the city will expand to 294,000 square meters (3.1 million square feet). Built on the grounds of a former Toyota Motor Corp. auto plant, the facility is designed to foster collaboration between researchers and startups 3.

Innovative Infrastructure and Residents

Construction of Woven City began in 2021, featuring interconnected buildings linked by underground passageways. These subterranean corridors will host autonomous vehicles for tasks such as garbage collection and deliveries. The city's first residents, limited to 100 people and dubbed "weavers," will be employees of Toyota and partner companies like Nissin and Daikin 4.

A Nod to Toyota's Heritage

The city's name pays homage to Toyota's origins as a manufacturer of automatic textile looms. This connection traces back to Sakichi Toyoda, Daisuke Toyoda's great-great-grandfather, who sought to ease the burden of manual loom work for his mother 5.

Focus on Hydrogen and Autonomous Technology

While electric vehicles were not prominently featured in the Woven City plans, Toyota continues to champion hydrogen as the primary energy source for the project. This aligns with the company's broader strategy, even as competitors like Tesla and BYD have made significant strides in the electric vehicle market 1.

Long-Term Vision and Competition

Toyota acknowledges that Woven City is not expected to generate immediate profits. However, industry analysts like Keisuke Konishi from Quick Corporate Valuation Research Center suggest that the project may be Toyota's avenue to develop robotic ride technology to compete with initiatives like Google's Waymo 2.

Challenges in Futuristic City Development

Woven City joins a list of ambitious futuristic city projects, many of which have faced setbacks or remain incomplete. Notable examples include Alphabet's proposal in Toronto, Saudi Arabia's "Neom," and Masdar City near Abu Dhabi's airport. Toyota's financial strength positions it uniquely to pursue such an extensive and long-term project 3.

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