Toyota’s ambitious $10 billion (£8 billion) “smart city,” Woven City, is poised to welcome its first residents later this year.
Situated at the base of Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji, the 175-acre site is envisioned as a futuristic “living laboratory” for robotics, AI, and autonomous vehicles.
First announced in 2021, Woven City will serve as a testing ground for cutting-edge innovations, including robot-assisted living, self-driving cars, and even flying vehicles.
The first phase of construction is now complete, and Toyota revealed during the CES 2025 conference that the initial group of 100 residents, primarily Toyota employees and their families, will move into the site this autumn.
The city is expected to eventually house 2,000 residents, referred to as “weavers,” who will collaborate to test and refine futuristic technologies.
Woven City is designed by Bjarke Ingels, the celebrated architect behind 2 World Trade Center in New York City and Google’s headquarters in California and London.
The city will feature a network of AI-powered smart homes, advanced robotics, and a unique street plan divided into streets for autonomous vehicles, streets for pedestrians, and mixed-use pathways for personal mobility devices like bikes.
Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda has hinted at futuristic concepts such as “pet robots” to assist elderly residents and personal drones to accompany joggers for enhanced safety.
The smart city is central to Toyota’s strategy of evolving from an automaker into a “mobility” company.
While the company has dominated the hybrid vehicle market, it has faced criticism for lagging in electric vehicle adoption, particularly as competition heats up from Chinese automakers and electric vehicle giants like Tesla.
Woven City is part of Toyota’s push to reclaim technological leadership and develop innovative solutions that could redefine transportation and urban living.
The initial projects in Woven City may not include flying cars just yet, but they aim to redefine daily life. Announced collaborators include:
- Air-conditioning manufacturers exploring smart climate control.
- An instant noodle maker designing futuristic food delivery systems.
- A coffee company creating AI-enhanced café experiences.
These “inventors” will use the city as a testing ground to refine their products and explore new possibilities for everyday living.
Toyota has emphasised that Woven City will incorporate sustainable energy solutions, including hydrogen fuel cells, to power homes and vehicles. The city’s name, “Woven,” reflects its integration of technology, sustainability, and community, weaving these elements into a harmonious urban environment.
