Japanese automotive giant Toyota plans to open the doors of Woven City this year, a futuristic settlement and living laboratory at the base of the country’s iconic Mount Fuji.
Toyota plans to move the first 100 residents, primarily employees and their families, into the experimental town later this year and gradually expand its population to about 2,000 in the initial phases of the project, the company said on Jan. 6.
“This year, residents will begin to move in as we slowly bring Woven City to life,” Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda said at the CES tech show in Las Vegas. “We aim to accelerate the pace at which new technologies can be tested and developed at Woven City.”
Toyoda debuted plans for the so-called “living laboratory” five years ago, stating that it would be a fully sustainable city and a real-world showcase for artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, self-driving cars and smart homes.
Still, he said Woven City will not be open to the wider public for at least two years and it may never be profitable, according to Bloomberg.
“Will this Woven City make Toyota any money? Well, maybe not. As global citizens, I believe Toyota has a responsibility to invest in our collective future.”
Woven’s CEO Hajime Kumabe pushed back on Toyoda’s comments, saying he wants the project to become profitable. He added that it might be hard to quantify, as its innovations will blend into Toyota’s auto production.
A computer mockup of Woven City. Source: Toyota
Meanwhile, Woven’s chief financial officer Kenta Kon did not specify how much is being spent on building the futuristic city, other than telling reporters it’s a “big investment.” Phase 1 of the construction was completed in October 2024.
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A key part of the firm’s broader Woven initiatives is a new software platform and vehicle operating system it calls Arene.
The software is designed to speed up car development and lower costs. Toyota plans to deploy the system this year and make it a core component of its next-generation electric vehicles starting in 2026.
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