Topics
former
AI
Amazon
Image Credits:Kirsten Korosec
Apps
Biotech & Health
Climate
Image Credits:Kirsten Korosec
Cloud Computing
Commerce
Crypto
CES 2025, the annual consumer tech conference held in Las Vegas, is upon us — and this is where you…
enterprisingness
EVs
Fintech
Fundraising
contrivance
back
Government & Policy
Hardware
layoff
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
secrecy
Robotics
Security
Social
Space
Startups
TikTok
Transportation
Venture
More from TechCrunch
Events
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Podcasts
video
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
adjoin Us
Toyota Motor Chairman Akio Toyoda revealed Monday atCES 2025his vision for a living laboratory wedge - full of startups and technology . His substance : Woven City — a image city on a 175 - acre land site at the fundament of Mount Fuji in Japan — is open for job and searching for inventors .
“ Today , I say to anyone in any recession of the macrocosm , inspire or excited to make a difference . Make a alteration or make it count . Please consider this your official invitation to join us at Woven City , ” Toyoda said onstage . Toyoda said Monday that Woven City is train to launch in capitulation 2025 , or shortly thereafter .
This summertime , the company is launching a pitch contest and will extend scholarships to the Woven City for “ startups or individuals who involve fiscal support to add their ideas to life , ” Toyoda order .
Toyoda first shared his visionfive age agoat CES 2020 . Back then , the plan was to build a utopian metropolis of sorts , where mass would live and make for amongst all of Toyota ’s task , including its independent e - Palette shuttle and robots .
But Toyoda ’s vision has since thrive . While onstage , he touched on galvanizing air taxis — specifically mentioning Joby Aviation , which it recentlyinvested $ 500 millioninto — autonomous vehicle technical school , and rockets . Yes , rocket .
Toyoda refine on his interest in rockets follow the press conference , observe the musical theme is to use the engineering to build robust telecom infrastructure , which will be take to support autonomous vehicle engineering science . Woven City has made a 7 billion hankering ( $ 44 million ) investment into startup Interstellar Technologies Inc. and will leverage Toyota ’s expertise to bear out the deal product of rockets .
Surprisingly , Toyoda is n’t even sure if this effort will make money .
Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
“ I know what you are thinking with this Woven City , will make Toyota any money ? ” Toyoda take the consultation . “ Well , maybe not , but that ’s okay , because as global citizen , I trust Toyota has a responsibility to enthrone in our corporate future , to share what we ’ve memorize with others , and fend for new musical theme . ”
The company broke ground on the project in February 2021 at the former site of Toyota Motor East Japan ’s ( TMEJ ) Higashi - Fuji Plant in Susono City . The first phase angle admit building designed for “ co - foundation ” activities . Toyoda order onstage Monday that employee , scientist , entrepreneurs as well as retired person will be invited to live at Woven City .
Toyota is also renovating a former TMEJ Higashi - Fuji Plant adeptness into a manufacturing hub . Workers are preparing a site for Phase 2 . However , that likely wo n’t bulge out for some time as the ship’s company plans to take what it learned from Phase 1 to help it complicate its design for succeeding development .
Some artificer have already join Woven City , includingWbyT , as well as international companies , inauguration , and individual entrepreneurs . Woven City is also in carry on discussions with antecedently announced company such as ENEOS Corporation , Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation , and Rinnai Corporation , harmonize to the fellowship .
From the Storyline:Live Updates CES 2025: The final reveals and analysis as the event nears its end
CES 2025 , the yearly consumer technical school league hold in Las Vegas , is upon us — and this is where you …
