Toyota, the world’s leading car manufacturer, has officially unveiled its futuristic high-tech village in Japan — a bold experimental community designed to test autonomous driving and other advanced technologies in real-world conditions.
Situated in the city of Susono, Shizuoka Prefecture, at the foot of Mount Fuji, the development, called “Woven City,” will initially house around 360 Toyota employees and individuals connected to the company. The population is expected to grow to about 2,000 residents as the project expands.
“This is a test course for the future, not just a town,” Toyota’s chairman, Akio Toyoda, said during the inauguration ceremony, as reported by Japan’s national broadcaster, NHK.
Built on the site of a former Toyota factory, Woven City has been described as a “living laboratory” — a fully functioning community where residents will test and experience emerging technologies designed to enhance daily life. Toyoda explained that homes in the city would serve as experimental spaces for innovations such as in-home robotics and artificial intelligence systems aimed at improving comfort and convenience. “One example could be robots that learn how to fold shirts,” he said.
The project, first announced in 2020, is being led by Daisuke Toyoda, the son of Akio Toyoda. He emphasized that residents would play an active role in shaping the technologies of the future. “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 stated.
Toyota plans to trial a range of next-generation technologies in Woven City, including its e-Palette self-driving buses, household robotic assistants, delivery drones, and autonomous logistics systems. The city will also incorporate clean energy sources and advanced digital infrastructure to enable seamless communication between people, vehicles, and buildings.
Images from the launch show autonomous robots moving shared cars and compact electric vehicles navigating the streets of the futuristic settlement — scenes that reflect Toyota’s evolving identity from an automobile manufacturer into a global mobility and technology innovator.
Woven City represents Toyota’s vision of a connected, sustainable society where people and technology coexist harmoniously. The company says the project aims to explore how innovations in mobility, artificial intelligence, and robotics can create smarter, safer, and more inclusive communities.
Toyota’s leadership believes the initiative offers a glimpse into the future — a place where everyday life and advanced technology are woven together to build better living environments for generations to come.
An autonomous robot guides and transports shared cars inside Toyota Motor Corporation’s “Woven City” in Susono, Shizuoka Prefecture, on September 25, 2025.
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Toyota Opens High-Tech Village In Japan
Toyota, the world’s leading car manufacturer, has officially unveiled its futuristic high-tech village in Japan — a bold experimental community designed to test autonomous
