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Toyota announces the official launch of Woven City in Japan
The Courtyard at Woven City.
The Woven City innovation hub, a living laboratory where resident inventors will test and refine the future of mobility, officially launched in Japan at the end of September, will connect global technology with local action as Toyota New Zealand works towards achieving its vision of ‘Mobility for All’. The official launch of Woven City in Susono, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, has seen the first residents, known as ‘Weavers’, beginning to live in the city.
Developed by Woven by Toyota, Woven City is pioneering human-centric solutions for the movement of people, goods, information, and energy. Demonstrations include advanced driving assistance (AD/ADAS), mobility software platforms, smart logistics, and next-generation community energy systems.
By combining Toyota's manufacturing expertise, advanced software capabilities, and the unique strengths of each Inventor, Woven City seeks to foster Kakezan – a Japanese concept of ‘multiplication,’ where new innovation and societal value emerge from the convergence of different ideas and capabilities. At Woven City, Toyota aims to merge automotive expertise with insights from other industries to generate innovative solutions and societal benefits that have never existed before.
Tatsuya Ishikawa, Chief Executive Officer at Toyota New Zealand, says the woven city philosophy for innovation being tested in Japan connects directly to Toyota New Zealand’s local mission to deliver Mobility for All as part of the mobility company’s Let’s Go Places brand promise.
“Toyota New Zealand is not just envisioning the future of transport but actively creating it. We believe mobility is a universal right, and through technology we are evolving from being solely a new vehicle sales-oriented company to offering total mobility solutions to drive New Zealand forward. That includes electrification and multiple powertrain technologies, but also flexible options such as shorter-term car sharing via Cityhop by Toyota and car rentals via Ezi Car Rental by Toyota, which will make driving a Toyota more accessible than ever,” Ishikawa says.
While Woven City in Japan is testing the future of mobility, Toyota New Zealand is working to bring many of these ideas to life here at home. Through Cityhop by Toyota, New Zealand’s first car share service, more people can access a Toyota when and where they need it, without the cost of ownership. Similarly, Ezi Car Rental by Toyota provides flexible short- and long-term rental options, allowing Kiwis to scale their transport up or down as their needs change — whether for family trips, business, or seasonal demand.
Toyota’s leadership in hybrid electric vehicles has already put more than 100,000 hybrids on New Zealand roads, reducing both emissions and fuel use in everyday driving. Looking further ahead, Toyota New Zealand is also investing in hydrogen innovation and supporting Global Bus Ventures through our hydrogen trucks. The deployment of the GEH2 generator, powered by Toyota’s latest hydrogen fuel cell technology, demonstrates how zero-emission energy can be used to power events, worksites, and communities.
“As Woven City evolves, the technologies pioneered there will shape real-world solutions here in New Zealand. From smarter energy systems to more flexible mobility services. These innovations ensure we can preserve the Kiwi way of life while reducing our environmental impact, strengthening our economy, and supporting our communities to thrive,” says Ishikawa.
Woven City will continue to expand, with around 300 residents expected in its first phase and wider public access planned from 2026.
Toyota New Zealand remains committed to innovative action, ensuring its services are designed to be accessible to everyone and adaptable to the diverse needs of Kiwi motorists. From car share and rental platforms to vehicle electrification and hydrogen power, Toyota is focused on delivering solutions that go beyond the vehicle itself and support customers on every part of their journey.
These technologies are critical to reducing New Zealand’s carbon emissions and the Toyota NZ Sustainability Report, to be released this week, will delve deeper into Toyota’s future mobility plans.