When Toyota announced, in 2020, the birth of Woven city, the project was presented not as a simple neighborhood, but as a "living prototype" of a city. Located in Susono, Shizuoka Prefecture, at the foot of the Mount Fuji, the city rises on the site of the former Japanese car manufacturer's factory, transformed into a construction site for urban innovation.

Initially designed to house approximately 360 residents, Woven City aims to eventually accommodate 2.000 people, including Toyota employees, researchers, families, and seniors, who will be able to live in close contact with emerging technologies. The city aims to create a sustainable and efficient community, powered by renewable energy such as hydrogen and solar, with zero-emission transportation and homes equipped with advanced smart home technologies.

Woven City, a masterplan designed by BIG

The masterplan bears the signature of Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the Danish architecture firm known for its visionary projects. The idea is to weave—hence the name— three different types of roads that define the urban grid: one dedicated to autonomous vehicles, one for bicycles and small micro-mobility vehicles, and one exclusively pedestrian, surrounded by greenery. This tripartite division aims to ensure safety, efficiency, and quality of public space.

The buildings, constructed primarily of wood using prefabrication techniques, incorporate photovoltaic roofs for energy production and are organized around central courtyards that encourage social interaction. The aesthetics combine Japanese tradition and hi-tech innovation, in a contemporary reinterpretation of the Japanese village.

The underlying philosophy is clear: to create an urban ecosystem in which autonomous mobility, artificial intelligence, robotics and sustainable solutions are tested in real life. No longer just laboratory prototypes, but applications integrated into the daily lives of city dwellers.

Autonomous and connected mobility for a futuristic city

The heart of Woven City is, unsurprisingly, mobility. Toyota uses the city as a testing ground for its autonomous electric vehicles, in particular the e-Palette, modular self-driving minibuses that can serve as collective transport, urban delivery, or even mobile shops and clinics.

The digital infrastructure integrates road sensors, cameras, and artificial intelligence systems that manage traffic in real time. There are no traditional traffic lights: traffic flows are regulated predictively, with the aim of reducing accidents, queues, and traffic jams.

In addition to vehicles, Woven City is experimenting with new forms of intermodality: electric bicycles and scooters, dedicated walking routes, and a network of smart parking lots managed via an app. The concept is "mobility as a service," where travel doesn't depend on vehicle ownership, but on a shared and optimized system.

An AI and robotics lab entirely owned by Toyota

One of Toyota's stated goals is to make Woven City a place where AI and robotics can interact with everyday life. The homes will be equipped with IoT sensors and robotic assistants to monitor residents' health, suggest healthier lifestyles, and provide support, especially for the elderly and those with disabilities.

Toyota, which has been investing in assisted robotics for years, is using Woven City to test domestic robots Capable of performing simple tasks such as carrying objects, cooking, or assisting with cleaning. At the same time, telemedicine systems will enable remote diagnosis and continuous monitoring of vital signs.

For partner technology companies — including Cisco, NVIDIA, and Panasonic —the city represents an ideal testing ground for large-scale AI applications, from predictive energy management to environmental awareness for urban safety.

Energy and sustainability to protect the environment

Woven City is designed as a low-impact city. Energy will be produced largely from renewable sources, particularly from solar panels and hydrogen fuel cells, a sector in which Toyota is a pioneer with its Mirai sedan. Local microgrids will allow energy to be stored and redistributed according to peak demand, with AI systems optimizing consumption.

The water will be recycled through local treatment systems and used for irrigate urban green spacesWaste management will also be digital: an underground pneumatic system will collect and automatically sort waste, minimizing the traffic of collection trucks.

I green roofs and community gardens complete the approach, making Woven City a city where nature is integrated into the infrastructure.

Unlike other futuristic projects, Toyota places a strong emphasis on the idea of community. Common spaces, courtyards, and gardens are designed to encourage meetings and shared activities. The city will host research laboratories, schools and shops, creating a self-sufficient microcosm.

Inclusivity is a key aspect: Woven City aims to become a place where young talents, families, seniors, and startups can coexist and contribute to experimentation. It's not a "luxury" city, but a prototype that aims to reflect the dynamics of a real society.

Woven City: What's the current status of the work?

La Construction of Woven City began in 2021 with a ceremony attended by Toyota President Akio Toyoda. In 2023, the first residential and infrastructure lots took shape, while the selection of the first experimental residents began in 2024. The goal is that by the end of 2025 the first residential nuclei are operational and autonomous vehicles begin to circulate in a delimited area.

Despite the project's scale, Toyota is adopting an incremental approach: Woven City will grow in phases, constantly testing the technologies' real-life impact. This ensures flexibility and reduces the risk of the city becoming a "cathedral in the desert” disconnected from reality.

From the first global impact to future prospects

Woven City is not just a Japanese project: has a global meaningIt's a testbed to understand how the cities of the future can coherently integrate autonomous mobility, AI, and sustainability. For Toyota, it's also a way to transform itself from a car manufacturer to a provider of mobility services and urban solutions.

If successful, Woven City will become a model that can be replicated elsewhere in the world, offering concrete insights to governments, architects, and urban planners. If limitations emerge, it will still serve as a valuable lesson for better understanding the challenges of urban transition.

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