In a recent press event held in Tokyo, Koji Sato, President and CEO of Toyota, announced that Woven by Toyota, a mobility technology subsidiary of Toyota, will play a key role in the development of next-generation cars and software platforms. Toyota’s vision for a mobility society and the “Toyota Mobility Concept” focuses on extending the value of the car, expanding mobility into new realms, and integrating mobility with social systems. Woven by Toyota will help Toyota to develop next-generation cars, including advanced BEVs, and to realize a mobility society in which everyone can move freely, happily and comfortably.
Woven by Toyota’s role is to accelerate Toyota Mobility Concept by developing software to expand vehicle intelligence and by building and operating Woven City—a test course for mobility that will serve as a living laboratory for trialing ways of connecting people, cars, and society. At the heart of this is Arene, a comprehensive software platform and vehicle operating system that enhances car intelligence and improves both the development and application of mobility software.
Arene is targeted for deployment on vehicles beginning in 2025 followed by Toyota’s next generation of BEV in 2026. Arene builds on Toyota’s history of hardware excellence to apply the principles of the Toyota Production System to automotive software development, targeting similar gains in quality, reliability, and performance. Arene also enables greater software reusability across models and automates key aspects of the development pipeline for greater efficiency. When paired with Toyota’s hardware platforms, Arene will help enable Toyota to speed up the development of new vehicles, drive down costs, and deliver both improved safety and personalized experiences to customers around the world.
Beyond Arene, Woven by Toyota is also driving software innovation across a range of important areas, including leading Toyota’s development of automated driving technologies. This includes next-generation Automated Driving and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, as well as the underlying geospatial intelligence technology that enables safe and reliable decision-making by vehicle systems.
Looking to the future, nothing captures the scale of the efforts of Toyota and Woven by Toyota better than Woven City, a test course for mobility. Woven City’s unique partnership and collaboration brings together Toyota group developers, partner corporations, startups, entrepreneurs, and residents of all ages to develop new ideas and inventions that can benefit people in their everyday lives and improve well-being for all. The Phase 1 construction of Woven City will be completed in the summer of 2024, after which Toyota and the Company will prepare for the start of initial trials in 2025.
The role of Woven by Toyota in the development of next-generation cars and software platforms is critical to Toyota’s vision for a mobility society. James Kuffner, CEO and Representative Director of Woven by Toyota, stated, “This is a pivotal moment for the industry when software can accelerate our progress toward an advanced mobility society. Woven by Toyota plays a critical role, and our unique software platform will enable Toyota not only to build next-generation BEVs, but also, expand the value of mobility across every aspect of our lives.”
In line with this framework, Woven by Toyota is set to strengthen its leadership team. Takanori Azuma and Julie Hamp joined as Directors on the Board, and Koji Kobayashi joined as Audit and Supervisory Board Member on April 1, 2023, bringing with them a wealth of experience and knowledge to help guide the company towards achieving its goals.
Takanori Azuma has an extensive background in finance and corporate strategy, having worked at Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and as a consultant at McKinsey & Company. Julie Hamp brings with her over 30 years of experience in the automotive industry, having previously worked at General Motors and PepsiCo, among other companies. Koji Kobayashi has a legal background, having worked as a partner at Nishimura & Asahi, one of Japan’s largest law firms.
These new additions to the leadership team will help Woven by Toyota to continue developing innovative software solutions for the mobility industry, as well as overseeing the construction and operation of the Woven City test course for mobility.
“Woven by Toyota is committed to bringing about a mobility society that benefits everyone, and our new directors and audit and supervisory board member will play a crucial role in helping us to achieve this goal,” said James Kuffner, CEO and Representative Director of Woven by Toyota.
The company’s focus on software innovation is already evident in its Arene software platform and vehicle operating system, which enhances car intelligence and improves the development and application of mobility software. Arene is set to be deployed on vehicles beginning in 2025, followed by Toyota’s next generation of BEV in 2026.
Woven City, the test course for mobility, is another key component of the company’s strategy to create a mobility society that is safe, convenient, and accessible to everyone. The Phase 1 construction of Woven City is set to be completed in the summer of 2024, after which initial trials will begin in 2025.
As part of Toyota’s wider vision for a mobility society, Woven by Toyota is helping to develop next-generation cars, including advanced BEVs, and to integrate mobility with social systems. The company’s unique software platform and expertise in automated driving technologies are also contributing to the development of safer and more reliable vehicles.
This latest announcement from Woven by Toyota demonstrates the company’s ongoing commitment to innovation and its determination to play a leading role in shaping the future of mobility. With a strengthened leadership team in place, the company is well positioned to deliver on its vision of a mobility society that benefits everyone.
