After 3 years of construction, this “base” is about to welcome its first residents.
First announced in 2021, Toyota – the world’s best-selling car manufacturer – is showcasing its enormous ambition as it nears completion of an unprecedented sustainable city at the foot of an active volcano in Japan.
Welcome to Woven City, located at the base of Mount Fuji.
Toyota’s future city.
This super city will be a fully autonomous community aimed at testing new technologies such as autonomous driving, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI) in a real-world environment, according to Forbes.
The streets will be divided into three types: areas exclusively for pedestrians, fast-moving vehicle lanes, and low-speed vehicle roads. The city will only permit zero-emission vehicles, special transport for the elderly, and assistance for wheelchair users. The design concept reveals a network-like layout for the experimental city with ample outdoor spaces to promote interaction.
Toyota has entrusted the city’s design to Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, known for projects such as the Two World Trade Center, the Lego House in Denmark, and Google’s Mountain View headquarters. “Technology is rapidly changing the way we live and move within the city. Connected, autonomous, zero-emission, and public transport solutions will provide numerous opportunities for a new style of urban living,” Ingels shared.
Residents moving to Woven City will include families, retirees, retailers, and scientists. The experimental city is situated near the base of Mount Fuji, which last erupted 300 years ago. “Three centuries have passed since the Hoei eruption, and magma may be accumulating. Therefore, it would not be surprising if the mountain were to erupt again at any moment,” expressed Toshitsugu Fujii, a retired professor from the University of Tokyo, voicing concerns about a potential eruption affecting the residents of this experimental city.
Photo: Toyota/Woven City
Approximately 360 initial residents are expected to move into Woven City by the end of 2024, with a final intended population of 2,000 residents. In 2025, Toyota plans to conduct initial trials.
According to information from Wonderfulengineering, Woven City is valued at billions of US dollars.
Photo: Toyota/Woven City.
Toyota stated that Woven City spans 708,000 square meters. This super city is likened to a “living laboratory” for Toyota to test reusable and energy-efficient autonomous vehicle prototypes, thereby expanding mobility capabilities and unlocking human potential.
The car manufacturer plans to collect vast datasets from the use of autonomous vehicles guided by sensors in streetlights, buildings, and roads within the city to better understand traffic patterns for both cars and pedestrians.
Photo: Toyota/Woven City
This connectivity will enable Toyota to test how advanced AI technology operates in the real world with minimal risk.
The fully connected ecosystem of the city will be powered by clean energy sources such as solar energy, hydrogen fuel cells, and geothermal energy.
Photo: Toyota/Woven City
Woven City is also expected to feature “smart homes” that operate almost entirely on hydrogen, helping to reduce emissions and make this unique super city as sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible.
Residents of this future city will be transported by autonomous vehicles and live in a zero-emission environment, with all appliances equipped with cutting-edge technology.
Photo: Toyota/Woven City
Akio Toyoda, Chairman and CEO of Toyota (who will resign on April 1 to become Chairman of the Board), stated: “Building a complete sensor-equipped city from the ground up, even on such a small scale, is a unique opportunity to develop future technologies, including a digital operating system for the city’s infrastructure.
With people, buildings, and vehicles all connected and communicating through data and sensors, we will be able to experiment with connected AI technology in both the virtual and physical worlds, maximizing its potential.”
Illustrative image: Copilot
In addition to this advanced technology, most buildings in Woven City will be constructed in traditional Japanese style using wood. This means that even these crafts will be performed by robots specifically programmed to handle heavy labor, completely replacing human workers.
Experts predict that by 2040, over 33 million autonomous vehicles will be sold globally – but today, even the most advanced self-driving cars still require some level of human oversight.
By 2040, it is forecasted that more than 33 million autonomous vehicles will be sold worldwide. Photo: Copilot
To fully implement autonomous vehicles, cities need to be completely connected to transmit the vast amounts of data required for vehicles. Sensors and cameras scattered throughout the roads, traffic lights, and buildings can provide this data to cars, encompassing everything from weather conditions to the behavior of cyclists. Once self-driving cars have this data, they can process and utilize it to navigate safely through the city.
Currently, modern cities are not set up this way – which is why Toyota is building Woven City filled with sensors from the start.
News about the impending completion of the Woven City project emerged shortly after photos showcasing the progress of Saudi Arabia’s colossal “Mirror City” project were shared.
Woven City: Toyota’s future city. (Source: Toyota).
