The Toyota Woven City is open for business and looking for startups

Toyota Motor Chairman Akio Toyoda revealed on Monday to Cost of CES 2025 his vision of life is a laboratory chock full of inventions and technology. The message: Woven City – a city located on a 175-acre site at the foot of Japan’s Mount Fuji – is open for business and creative exploration.

“Today, I say to everyone around the world, motivated or excited to make a difference. Make a difference or count. Please consider your invitation to join us in Woven City,” said Toyoda on stage. Toyoda said Monday that Woven City plans to open in the fall of 2025, or sooner.

This summer, the company is launching a competition and will offer scholarships in Woven City to “startups or people who need financial support to bring their ideas to life,” Toyoda said.

Toyoda shared his vision five years ago at CES 2020. Back then, plans were to build a city of sorts, where people will live and work among all Toyota projects, including e-Palette shuttles and autonomous robots.

But Toyoda’s vision grew. While on stage, he touched on electric taxis – especially to mention Joby Aviation, which soon invested $500 million in -autonomous vehicle technology, and rockets. Yes, rockets.

Ironically, Toyoda is not sure if this effort will make money.

“I know what you’re thinking about Woven City, will it make Toyota money?” Toyota asked the audience. “Well, maybe not, but that’s okay, because as global citizens, I believe Toyota has a responsibility to shape our future, share what we’ve learned with others, and support new ideas.”

The company began operations in February 2021 at the former Toyota Motor East Japan Higashi-Fuji Plant in Susono City. The first phase includes buildings designed for “co-creation” activities. Toyoda said on stage Monday that workers, scientists, entrepreneurs and retirees will be invited to live in the Woven City.

Toyota is renovating the former TMEJ Higashi-Fuji Plant into a manufacturing facility. Staff are preparing the site for Phase 2. However, that won’t start for a while as the company plans to take what it learned from Phase 1 to help shape its future plans.

Some manufacturers have already joined Woven City, including WbyTas well as foreign companies, startups, and sole traders. Woven City continues to negotiate with previously announced companies such as ENEOS Corporation, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, and Rinnai Corporation, according to the company.