Toyota has wrapped up the first phase of its futuristic city, dubbed Woven City, in Japan after three years of construction, chief executive Akio Toyoda said on the sidelines of the CES technology trade fair in Las Vegas.
Over time, about 2,000 residents are expected to settle in the city, including researchers, Toyota employees and retirees, Toyoda said.
The Japanese auto giant first unveiled plans for the experimental Woven City at CES five years ago.
Situated on the site of a former factory at the base of Mount Fuji, the site is set to serve as a “living lab” where future technologies can be tested in real-life scenarios.
Innovations include robots designed to assist older people and small drones equipped with lanterns that can accompany joggers. Toyota’s autonomous shuttles are also set to provide transport within the city.
Toyoda also noted that the company is also interested in rocket technology.
“Because the future of mobility shouldn’t be limited to just earth … or just one car company for that matter!” he said in an apparent dig at tech billionaire Elon Musk, who leads electric car manufacturer Tesla and aerospace firm SpaceX.
Toyota’s initial foray into rocket technology has been an investment in Japanese rocket company Interstellar Technologies.