- Woven City AI Vision Engine, a leading Vision Language Model, and other advanced AI technologies are introduced for applications across industries.
- The Woven City Inventor Garage begins operations as a hub for developing new mobility products and services.
- Four companies newly join Woven City as Inventors.
TOKYO, Japan (April 22, 2026)―Toyota Motor Corporation ("Toyota") and Woven by Toyota, Inc. ("WbyT") today unveiled technologies designed to accelerate innovation and drive Kakezan at Toyota Woven City ("Woven City"), which officially launched in September 2025. Kakezan, meaning "multiplication" in Japanese, is WbyT's approach to creating solutions with greater impact for society. It brings together diverse strengths across industries, including Toyota's mass-production experience, WbyT's software development expertise, and the unique capabilities of Inventors and partners.
AI Vision Engine and Integrated ANZEN System Bring Kakezan to Life
WbyT is deploying advanced in-house AI models across Woven City to support the co-creation of products and services that enhance people's lives, guided by the belief that AI should complement human intuition and ability rather than replace them.
The Woven City AI Vision Engine ("AI Vision Engine"), a large-scale AI foundation model that enables the city to understand and respond to real-world conditions in real time, is one example of this effort. By bringing together visual, behavioral and environmental data from sources such as camera feeds, mobility systems and user inputs, it identifies patterns, detects potential risks and enables coordinated action across connected systems to improve safety. The model ranks among the world's leading Vision Language Models*1.
The technology supports a range of real-world applications. At Woven City, it is currently being used in a proof-of-concept project with UCC Japan Co., Ltd., one of the city's Inventors. Toyota and WbyT plan to expand its deployment beyond Woven City.
The Woven City Integrated ANZEN System ("Integrated ANZEN System") builds on AI Vision Engine's capabilities by combining it with other AI technologies, including Woven City Behavior AI and Woven City Drive Sync Assist. Woven City Behavior AI interprets and predicts human behavioral patterns, while Woven City Drive Sync Assist provides driving assistance based on driver needs and surrounding conditions. By analyzing camera data from vehicles and traffic signals, the system can understand movement, anticipate behavior, and provide that information to pedestrians and drivers to support peace of mind both on and off the road. Together, these technologies enable people, mobility technologies and infrastructure to operate as a single coordinated system, improving safety.
Separately, Toyota and WbyT also unveiled Woven City Infra Hub, an integrated data platform that unifies data across the city, and Woven City Data Fabric, a data management framework that facilitates data utilization while respecting individual preferences and privacy.
| *1 | According to the MVBench Leaderboard , a benchmark for evaluating video-based AI comprehension and analysis. |
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Further supporting Inventor innovation, the Inventor Garage has begun operations in April.
The Inventor Garage acts as a hub for end-to-end development. It features co-creation spaces where Inventors can build prototypes, testing areas where inventions can be validated, and accommodations and communal spaces designed to help Inventors focus on development and engage with residents ("Weavers"). Throughout the site, Toyota and Toyota Motor East Japan ("TMEJ") offer longstanding technical and engineering expertise.
The Inventor Garage is located in the former stamping facility of TMEJ's Higashi-Fuji plant, which supported passenger vehicle production for more than 50 years. The site carries forward the monozukuri*2 spirit of the original plant while symbolizing Woven City's connection between heritage and innovation.
The Inventor Garage completes a three-stage development loop unique to Woven City:
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- The Inventor Garage
- agile development and prototyping of products and services
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- The Inventor Field
- controlled validation in a dedicated test environment
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- Phase 1 Residential Area
- real-world testing in a real living environment, currently home to approximately 100 resident Weavers
By cycling through these three environments, new mobility products and services can move from concept to reality while maintaining safety and security at every stage.
| *2 | Monozukuri, meaning "the art of making things" in Japanese, refers to Toyota's spirit of craftsmanship and dedication to manufacturing continuously better products for people. |
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Four New Inventors Join Woven City
AI Robot Association (AIRoA), DAIICHIKOSHO CO., LTD., Joby Aviation, Inc. and Toyota Financial Services Corporation have joined Woven City as the latest Woven City Inventors. This brings the total number of Inventors to 24.
| Inventor | Core Business | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| AI Robot Association (AIRoA) | Promoting the development of AI‑enabled robots and their adoption in society | Exploring the practical deployment of robots through real‑world challenge identification and feedback cycles |
| DAIICHIKOSHO CO., LTD. | Commercial karaoke services and the operation of karaoke and dining establishments | Creating more flexible karaoke experiences through real‑world demonstration experiments |
| Joby Aviation, Inc. | Developing and manufacturing an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL*3) and the operation of air taxi services | Exploration of an air mobility ecosystem |
| Toyota Financial Services Corporation | Management and oversight of Toyota's global automotive sales finance operations | Developing new sales and financing models based on verified, real‑world mobility usage data |
| *3 | Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing eVTOL |
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The final pitch for the Toyota Woven City Challenge accelerator program , announced in August 2025, is scheduled for Thursday, April 23. The winner is expected to join Woven City as an Inventor, and the addition of startups alongside established enterprises marks another milestone in expanding Woven City's Inventor community.
Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda also continues to contribute to innovation efforts in Woven City as part of its Inventor community. As the city's "Master Weaver," he most recently contributed to the development of Akio Toyoda AI. The AI model reflects his unique approach to leadership and decision-making, and is designed to promote AI adoption and empower purpose-driven collaboration across the Toyota Group.
Toyota and WbyT will drive Kakezan with Inventors and other partners across industries to accelerate innovation. Together, and through the technologies and developments announced today, the companies aim to deliver lasting impact for society and future generations.
Toyota Motor Corporation works to develop and manufacture innovative, safe and high-quality products and services that create happiness by providing mobility for all. We believe that true achievement comes from supporting our customers, partners, employees, and the communities in which we operate. Since our founding over 80 years ago in 1937, we have applied our Guiding Principles in pursuit of a safer, greener and more inclusive society. Today, as we transform into a mobility company developing connected, automated, shared and electrified technologies, we also remain true to our Guiding Principles and many of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals to help realize an ever-better world, where everyone is free to move.
- SDGs Initiatives
- https://global.toyota/en/sustainability/sdgs/
