By Ayomide Otitoju
Toyota, the world’s top-selling carmaker, has officially opened its high-tech experimental village in Japan, designed as a hub for testing autonomous driving, robotics, and other futuristic innovations.
The project, known as “Woven City,” is built on the site of a former Toyota factory at the base of Mount Fuji. It will initially accommodate about 360 Toyota staff and affiliates, with the population expected to grow to 2,000 over time, according to the company.
Speaking at the opening ceremony on Thursday, Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda described the development as “a test course for the future, not just a town,” national broadcaster NHK reported. He added that Woven City is envisioned as a “living laboratory” where residents actively participate in shaping next-generation technologies.
Smart homes within the community will serve as testing grounds for innovations such as in-home robotics to support daily living, including prototypes capable of folding clothes. Toyoda said the environment would enable inventors to trial ideas in a safe and practical setting.
The project, first announced in 2020, is spearheaded by Toyoda’s son, Daisuke Toyoda. “Much like test drivers for cars, our residents will be the ones who use and experience the new products and services our inventors develop,” he explained.
Among the technologies slated for testing are Toyota’s e-Palette autonomous buses, as well as drones, flying taxis, and robotic pets—all designed to showcase the possibilities of future urban living.
