Toyota Launches First Phase of Woven City Test Site Near Mt. Fuji

Toyota Motor Corporation has opened a section of its software testing facility in Japan’s Woven City, near Mt. Fiji. According to Reuters, Toyota’s Woven City facility opened over five years after the automaker unveiled the project with the aim of fast-tracking next-generation tech trials.

Testing Futuristic Product Designs

Toyota’s technology testing facility project was launched in January 2020 by the automaker’s Chairman, Akio Toyoda, who at the time was the CEO. An experimental project designed to test autonomous driving and other futuristic developments, Woven City depicts Toyota’s future city concept.

The city has been touted as a real-life setting where trials for inventions like robot pets, flying taxis, and drones will be undertaken. Globally, automakers are shifting towards electrification and automation. American firms like Waymo and Tesla are already providing or undertaking trials on autonomous vehicles.

In China, ride-hailing firm Baidu has teamed up with Uber to deploy self-driving vehicles in different markets. Baidu also collaborated with Tesla to boost driving-assistance software performance in China. The partnership saw Baidu send a team of engineers from its mapping team to Tesla’s office in Beijing.

At the beginning of this month, Toyota announced plans to build its first fully-electric vehicle at the Kolin Plant in Europe. The move marks a significant milestone for the automaker and the Czech Republic. Toyota’s entry into the EV battery market comes at a time when countries are increasing investment in the industry.

Real-World Simulations

Beside the Woven City testing site, the automaker is setting up a new facility for simulating real-world urban environments. The simulations feature people living in environments where experimental technologies like robotics and self-driving vehicles exist.

Approximately 300 people are expected to live on-site as part of phase one of the project. Toyota expects this number to increase significantly to about 2,000 people once the project is completed.

The Japanese automaker plans to leverage the Mt. Fuji smart city facility to integrate people, cars, and infrastructure in real-world environments. According to Woven by Toyota CEO Hajome Kumabe, this move is aimed at creating a safe and secure mobility society. Toyota plans to test cars in live urban settings in future.

Senior VP for Woven by Toyota Daisuke Toyoda said similar trials are already being conducted abroad. “That’s why we believe it’s crucial to gather data that can serve as evidence to ensure safety and security can be properly guaranteed,” he said.

Tech Innovations at Woven City Launch

During the Woven City launch event, Toyota showcased a self-driving robot. The robot comes with multiple cameras and lidar sensors capable of moving cars to designated locations. The robot operates on a Toyota system. The automaker already uses it to move vehicles around manufacturing plants like the Motomachi factory in central Aichi prefecture.

A musician, seven firms and 12 Toyota Group companies are already participating in the Woven City project. Their involvement in the project allows them to collect data and conduct long-term tests on products and services that are under development.

One of the participating companies is Daikin Industries, an air conditioning manufacturer. The company will test a technology that makes indoor air pollen-free at the Woven City. The technology is aimed at addressing the cedar tree pollen problem, which is the main cause of hay fever in Japan.

Toyota’s journey to tech-driven automation has not been without challenges. On September 18, 2025, the automaker recalled 591,000 vehicles in the U.S due to a dashboard software problem. The issue raised safety concerns as drivers may be unable to see essential data like speed and warning indicators when starting their vehicles.