Toyota Motor Corporation and its subsidiary Woven by Toyota, Inc. have announced the addition of 12 new companies to the Woven City project in Susono City, Japan. This brings the total number of participating “Inventors” to 19 ahead of the official launch of Phase 1 on September 25, 2025.
Woven City is described as a real-world test course for mobility, aiming to develop new solutions for how people live and move. The project began with its concept unveiling at CES 2020, followed by steady progress including completion of Phase 1 construction in October 2024.
The newly added Inventors include two non-Toyota Group companies: Interstellar Technologies Inc., which focuses on rocket and satellite development, and Kyoritsu Seiyaku Corporation, specializing in veterinary medicines. Interstellar Technologies will conduct its work outside Woven City but will receive support from Toyota and Woven by Toyota through engineering expertise and technical staff.
The remaining ten new Inventors are all part of the Toyota Group: Toyota Industries Corporation, JTEKT Corporation, Toyota Auto Body Co., Ltd., Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Aisin Corporation, DENSO Corporation, Toyota Boshoku Corporation, Toyota Motor East Japan, Inc., Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd., and Toyota Motor Kyushu, Inc.
These additions build on a first group of Inventors announced in January 2025 that included Daikin Industries, DyDo DRINCO, Nissin Foods, UCC Japan, Zoshinkai Holdings along with Toyota and Woven by Toyota. The expansion reflects ongoing efforts to bring together startups, enterprises, entrepreneurs and researchers who share the project’s vision.
At Woven City, participants will use both manufacturing expertise from Toyota and software capabilities from Woven by Toyota to create solutions for real-world challenges. Residents and visitors—referred to as Weavers—will provide feedback on these innovations.
Looking forward, Woven by Toyota plans to introduce an Accelerator program aimed at attracting further participation from startups and research institutions. Details about this initiative will be published on the Woven City website on August 25.
Phase 1’s launch marks a significant milestone for the project. Approximately 360 residents—primarily employees of the Toyota Group and their families—are expected to move into Phase 1 starting September 2025. Plans are also underway to welcome general public visitors beginning in fiscal year 2026 or later.
Woven City is located at the former site of TMEJ Higashi-Fuji Plant in Shizuoka Prefecture with a site area of about 47,000 square meters. The city aims to expand mobility beyond transportation by exploring how movement of people, goods, information and energy can contribute to society’s progress.
According to https://global.toyota/en/sustainability/sdgs/, initiatives at Woven City align with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), supporting broader sustainability objectives set out by both the company and international frameworks.
“Woven by Toyota…is challenging the current state of mobility through human-centric innovation and empowering mobility transformation,” according to information provided about the subsidiary’s mission. The company leverages technologies such as AD/ADAS systems as well as platforms like Arene for software development.
“Toyota Motor Corporation works to develop and manufacture innovative, safe and high-quality products and services that create happiness by providing mobility for all,” according to a statement describing its overall philosophy since its founding in 1937.
