Toyota Woven City Officially Launches as a Real-World Testbed for Future Mobility
Toyota Motor Corporation and Woven by Toyota, Inc. today officially announced the launch of Toyota Woven City (“Woven City”), the pioneering smart city concept first revealed at CES 2020. The launch event, held in Susono City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, brought together key stakeholders, partner companies, innovators, and the first residents to celebrate the city’s transition from concept to reality. As Toyota and WbyT embark on this next chapter, Woven City positions itself as a living laboratory for the future of mobility, innovation, and sustainable urban living, aligning with Toyota’s ongoing transformation into a mobility company.
At the heart of Woven City are two distinct groups of participants: Inventors and Weavers.
Inventors: Driving Innovation Through Kakezan
The first group, known as Inventors, comprises startups, research institutions, entrepreneurs, and enterprises dedicated to developing and testing products and services within the city. By combining Toyota’s deep manufacturing expertise with WbyT’s advanced software capabilities and the unique strengths of each Inventor, Woven City aims to foster Kakezan, a Japanese concept meaning “multiplication.” This approach encourages innovations that generate societal value and new solutions through the convergence of diverse ideas, creating a multiplier effect far beyond what any single entity could achieve alone.
Among these Inventors, singer-songwriter Naoto Inti Raymi joins as the first artist participant. Tasked with leading sound-related Kakezan co-creation, he introduces a new creative dimension to the city, producing both the Woven City Anthem and the project’s official audio logo. With his inclusion, the total number of Inventors participating in the project reaches twenty, representing a growing network of innovators ready to shape the future of urban life.
To further support innovation, Woven City launched its accelerator program on September 8, 2025, with an open call for Inventors through the “Woven City Challenge: Hack the Mobility” competition. This initiative invites startups, entrepreneurs, universities, and research institutions from around the globe to propose ideas for Kakezan co-creation. Applications for the challenge will remain open until October 14, 2025, providing a platform for worldwide collaboration and experimentation within Woven City.
Weavers: Residents Shaping the Future of Urban Life
The second key group, known as Weavers, consists of residents and visitors who experience the city’s products and services firsthand. Their role is critical: by providing feedback and interacting with emerging innovations, Weavers help shape meaningful advancements that benefit society. Since September 2025, the first Weavers, including Toyota Group employees and their families, have begun moving into Woven City. Phase 1 is expected to ultimately accommodate approximately 300 residents, with plans to welcome general visitors starting in fiscal year 2026.
Celebrating the Official Launch
To mark this milestone, Toyota and WbyT hosted the “Woven City Official Launch: Weaving the Future—Day 01” event. The gathering brought together Inventors, Weavers, and partner organizations to celebrate the beginning of life in Woven City and the potential for collaborative innovation. Leaders from both companies expressed gratitude to all who contributed to realizing the city’s vision, emphasizing the transformative potential of Woven City as a test course for mobility solutions that can enhance well-being locally and globally. During the event, Naoto Inti Raymi performed the city’s anthem, further enriching the celebration with a creative touch.
Akio Toyoda, Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation and Master Weaver of Woven City, addressed attendees with a message of collaboration and optimism: “What we will spark here at Woven City is Kakezan—multiplication! No single company can create meaningful Kakezan on its own; it takes at least two. Let’s gather our efforts, and with them our smiles. With plenty of smiles, doesn’t it feel like we really can weave a brighter future together?”
