Toyota’s Woven City Officially Opens, Pioneering a Human-Centered Approach to Future Mobility
Toyota Motor Corporation and Woven by Toyota, Inc. (WbyT) have officially launched Woven City, their visionary urban development project, in Susono City, Japan. With its first residents and partner companies now in place, the city embarks on an exciting journey to redefine the future of mobility.
Since announcing its ambition to become a mobility company in 2018 and unveiling the Woven City concept at CES 2020, Toyota has steadily transformed its vision into reality. The core principle behind Woven City is to prioritize human needs and integrate technology seamlessly into daily life.
The Residents of Woven City: Inventors and Weavers
Woven City is designed to accommodate two primary resident profiles: “Inventors” and “Weavers.”
Inventors: Catalysts of Innovation
Inventors comprise companies, startups, entrepreneurs, research institutions, and other innovators who will develop and test cutting-edge products and services within Woven City. By leveraging Toyota’s manufacturing expertise, WbyT’s software capabilities, and the unique strengths of each innovator, Woven City aims to foster Kakezan – the Japanese concept of “multiplication.” This refers to how resources and expertise amplify each other, creating an effect greater than the sum of their parts. In this context, Kakezan signifies the emergence of new innovations and societal benefits through the fusion of diverse ideas and capabilities.
Notably, singer-songwriter Naoto Inti Raymi has joined the community as an Inventor, becoming the first creator focused on sound-related collaboration within Woven City. He has already produced the Woven City Anthem and the city’s sound logo.
Woven City also launched its accelerator program on September 8, inviting startups, entrepreneurs, universities, and research institutions worldwide to propose ideas for Kakezan collaboration through the “Woven City Challenge: Hack the Mobility” competition. Applications are open until October 14, 2025.
Weavers: Shaping Meaningful Innovation
Weavers, the second resident profile, consist of residents and visitors. By experiencing products and services firsthand and providing feedback, Weavers will play a crucial role in shaping meaningful innovations within Woven City. Since September 2025, several Toyota Group employees and their families have begun moving in as the first Weavers. In Phase 1, approximately 300 residents are expected to live in the city. Starting in fiscal year 2026, general visitors will also be welcomed.
Akio Toyoda’s Vision for Collaboration
Akio Toyoda, Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation, serves as the Master Weaver of Woven City. During his opening address at the Woven City Official Launch: Weaving the Future – Day 01 event, he emphasized the importance of collaboration in achieving innovative solutions for the future of mobility.
“No single company can create meaningful Kakezan on its own – it takes at least two. So let us unite our efforts; together, we can weave a brighter future.”
Through Woven City, Toyota and WbyT aim to develop products and services that extend beyond the city’s boundaries to enrich people’s lives around the world.
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