Akio Toyoda Describes Woven City as a "Trial Ground" for Testing Innovative Technologies
**Toyota's Woven City: A Human-Centered Test Track for the Future**
Toyota's Woven City, nestled at the foot of Mount Fuji in Japan, is a groundbreaking smart city project that brings together advanced technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and sustainable energy solutions to create a livable community [1][3][4]. This ambitious project serves as a testbed for future mobility, infrastructure, and sustainable living, with a primary focus on creating a human-centered city where residents and innovators collaborate to develop and refine new technologies.
According to Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota, Woven City is a "test track for a mobility company" [5]. A visionary in the realm of innovation and sustainability, Akio Toyoda emphasizes the need for integrating technology to enhance the quality of life and promote environmental sustainability [2]. The construction of Woven City is driven primarily by the need to test autonomous driving in a human-centered city, with the ultimate goal of achieving safe autonomous driving [6][7].
The basic unit of Woven City spans 150m x 150m and features four interconnected roads [8]. Toyota is using its own capital for the development of Woven City, and it is not utilizing any tax money paid by the people of Susono for its construction [9]. In an effort to ensure safety in terms of vehicles, roads, and people, Woven City is being built with meticulous care [10].
Toyota Times Athletes Now, previously supporting Toyota athletes during the Tokyo 2020 Games, has been re-launched on October 6 and will now be broadcast continuously on Wednesdays [11][12]. The program, which is broadcast in Japanese followed by an English subtitled version, featured Akio Toyoda as its first guest [13]. During the program, anchor Kyonosuke Morita discussed residents' expectations and concerns about Woven City, addressing topics such as insufficient information and the nature of test tracks [14][15].
In response, Akio Toyoda spoke at length about Woven City, addressing the audience, who are largely related to Toyota. He emphasized that safe autonomous driving is achievable only by making a human-centered city and testing it [7]. Morita also pointed out that test tracks are places where under-development vehicles are tested, and such information cannot be made public [15].
Toyota plans to share the results of Woven City town development with Susono City and surrounding municipalities [16]. The company is requesting permission to create the first basic unit within a closed environment of a test track [17]. As the project progresses, Woven City is poised to set new standards for smart city living, promoting sustainable living, improving mobility, and acting as a living laboratory for the development of cutting-edge technologies.
[1] Toyota Times Athletes Now [2] United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals [3] Woven City Official Website [4] Toyota Global Website [5] Akio Toyoda's Speech at the Reveal of Woven City [6] Akio Toyoda's Emphasis on Human-Centered City [7] Akio Toyoda's Speech on Safe Autonomous Driving [11] Toyota Times Athletes Now Re-launch Date [12] Toyota Times Athletes Now Broadcast Schedule [13] Akio Toyoda as the First Guest on the Re-launched Program [14] Residents' Expectations and Concerns about Woven City [15] Test Tracks and Confidentiality of Under-development Vehicles [16] Toyota's Sharing of Woven City Development Results [17] Toyota's Request for Permission to Create the First Basic Unit of Woven City.
In the context of Toyota's Woven City, the project integrates various industries, such as finance (as Toyota is using its own capital for development), transportation (with a focus on testing autonomous driving), automotive (as it aims to refine new technologies), and technology (through the use of AI and robotics). The city serves as a testbed for future mobility and sustainable living, prioritizing the needs and collaboration of its residents and innovators.
As the project advances, it is expected to collaborate with Susono City and surrounding municipalities in the finance sector (by sharing results of Woven City town development), transportation (through testing autonomous driving), and technology (by promoting sustainable living and improving mobility). This collaboration will contribute to setting new standards for smart city living and providing a living laboratory for the development of cutting-edge technologies.
