Las Vegas, USA―At CES 2025, Toyota Motor Corporation (“Toyota”) announced the completion of Phase 1 construction of Toyota Woven City (“Woven City”), its test course for mobility. The launch of Phase 1 is planned for fall 2025 or shortly thereafter.

Toyota first announced its transformation into a mobility company at CES 2018 and, at CES 2020, unveiled the Woven City concept being developed in collaboration with Woven by Toyota (“WbyT”) to demonstrate Toyota’s long-term commitment to shaping the future of mobility.

Woven City has made steady progress since its groundbreaking ceremony on February 23, 2021, at the former site of Toyota Motor East Japan’s (“TMEJ”) Higashi-Fuji Plant in Susono City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Construction of Phase 1 buildings―the initial area for co-creation activities―was completed in October 2024. Preparations for the official launch are now underway.

Woven City’s Phase 1 has also previously been recognized for its environmentally conscious and human-centric design aimed at enhancing people’s overall quality of life. It earned Japan’s first LEED for Communities^* Platinum certification, the system’s highest rank.

Alongside Phase 1 preparations, renovation of a former TMEJ Higashi-Fuji Plant facility into a manufacturing hub for Woven City is underway, and site preparation work for Phase 2 has commenced. Insights from Phase 1 will help refine plans for Phase 2 and future phases, and continually enhance the test course’s functionality.

Woven City is a test course for mobility where “Inventors” who share a commitment to working “for someone other than themselves” can develop, test, and validate innovative products and services. These inventors include Toyota and Toyota Group companies, such as WbyT, as well as external companies, startups, and individual entrepreneurs. By leveraging Toyota’s decades-long manufacturing expertise and WbyT’s software capabilities, Woven City offers a unique environment equipped with the tools and services needed to tackle societal challenges and create future-focused value. Through collaboration among inventors and feedback from residents and visitors, Woven City aims to drive innovation and shape a better tomorrow.

The inventors of Woven City who have been confirmed so far are as follows.

Inventors

Alphabetical order as of January 7, 2025

Woven City is also in continued discussions with previously announced companies such as ENEOS Corporation, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT), and Rinnai Corporation.

External startups, entrepreneurs, universities and research institutions are also scheduled to be invited to Woven City through an accelerator program, starting in summer 2025.

Residents and visitors will play an equally vital role alongside inventors in Woven City. Known as ‘Weavers,’ these individuals share a passion for the ‘expansion of mobility’ and a commitment to building a more flourishing society. Through their participation in co-creation activities, Weavers will contribute to realizing the full potential of Woven City.

At the official launch of Woven City, starting in fall 2025 or thereafter, approximately 100 residents―primarily Toyota and WbyT staff and their families―are expected to participate in co-creation activities as the first residents. The community will then gradually expand to include external inventors and their families. Phase 1 is projected to accommodate around 360 residents, with the total population, including Phase 2 and subsequent phases, expected to reach approximately 2,000. Initially, visitors will be limited to related parties, with plans to welcome the general public to participate as Weavers in co-creation activities starting in FY2026 or thereafter.

Woven City also serves as a test course for Toyota’s transformation into a mobility company. Together, Toyota and WbyT aim to redefine mobility, expanding its scope beyond transportation to encompass the movement of people, goods, information, and energy for the benefit of individuals and society. Designed as a human-centered city, Woven City places the people who gather there―Inventors and Weavers―at its center to unlock new possibilities in the shared pursuit of “Well-being for All”. With an eye on expanding mobility from land, sea, and air to space, WbyT also announced an investment in Interstellar Technologies Inc. and will leverage Toyota’s expertise to support the mass production of rockets.

Woven City Phase 1 Basic Information

About Woven by Toyota

Woven by Toyota, a part of the Toyota Group, is challenging the current state of mobility through human-centric innovation and empowering mobility transformation. Through our AD/ADAS technology, our automotive software development platform Arene OS, our mobility test course Toyota Woven City, and Toyota’s growth fund, Woven Capital, we are pioneering the movement of people, goods, information, and energy, weaving a future of enhanced safety, connectivity and well-being for all.

Top management from four Toyota Group companies—Hino Motors, Daihatsu Motor, Toyota Industries Corporation, and Toyota Motor Corporation—together with the employees, donned their work clothes and went to the genba to put their heads together and face the issues.

Since 2022, the Toyota Group has faced ongoing certification issues*. Last February, Chairman Akio Toyoda established Akio Toyoda’s Juku TPS Jishuken for Certification Work to ensure the same mistakes are not made again.

* Group companies were carrying out certification testing necessary to apply for type approval to mass-produce car models using standards that differed from the ones set by the government.

Their goal was to use kaizen to create better systems for work. Their target was not only the certification work itself but the entire process leading up to certification, including planning, development, design, and production preparation.

Using the material and information flow diagram, they clarified the overall system behind their work, making it easy to see delays caused by re-dos and reworkings. This helped identify the true causes and implement countermeasures using genchi-genbutsu.

Early lessons from the TPS Jishuken included that to apply for certification for one model requires 1,300 pages of paperwork, that pressure to stick to the schedule piles up on the certification genba, and that there is anxiety about being able to perform the test correctly in one try due to the extreme pressure.

As the person responsible for guiding the Group, Chairman Toyoda is in charge of the activities. He praised the genba and offered some advice, saying, “I think we came to understand a lot of things we didn’t know before. Starting to understand is the first step forward.” “Don’t look for someone to blame for problems. Look at what happened. That’s the culture we need to create first and foremost.”

The aim is to build a system where it’s possible to find the issue and take action as soon as something happens.

From minivehicles to heavy-duty vehicles to engines, the four companies are deepening their connections and working together, sharing industry issues and developing case studies.

Source: https://toyotatimes.jp/en/newscast/100.html?padid=ag478_from_newsroom

At CFAO Mobility Zambia, we believe that continuous learning and skill enhancement are key to delivering the exceptional service our customers expect. That’s why, throughout the year, our teams are engaged in a blend of practical and online training designed to refine their skills, expand their knowledge, and keep them at the forefront of industry standards.

This year’s journey towards the highly anticipated Toyota National Skills Contest, held on Saturday, 9th November 2024, at the Nangwenya Toyota branch in Lusaka, is a perfect example of how our commitment to professional development culminates in a celebration of excellence.

Over the past year, employees from our Vehicle Sales, Parts, and Service departments participated in a series of online learning sessions and hands-on practical training. These sessions were designed to challenge them, expose them to real-life scenarios, and equip them with the skills needed to excel in their respective fields. By the time the contest arrived, our teams had already undergone rigorous training that tested their ability to apply what they had learned in realistic, competitive environments.

The Toyota National Skills Contest is not just a one-day event; it is the pinnacle of months of hard work and dedication. Employees from all five branches came together to compete in a series of tasks and challenges that tested their skills in real-world sales, service, and parts operations. The competition was fierce, with participants demonstrating a deep understanding of industry practices, technical expertise, and customer service excellence.

This contest, now in its 10th year, has become a cornerstone of our culture, encouraging growth, fostering innovation, and boosting morale. It’s a platform where the brightest minds of CFAO Mobility Zambia come to showcase their abilities, and where the winners are celebrated not only for their talent but also for their commitment to continuous improvement.

Celebrating Success and Continuous Improvement

We are excited to announce the winners of this year’s contest, whose dedication and expertise stood out among their peers. But beyond the awards and recognition, the real success is in the growth and development of every participant.

Here’s a look at the 2024 Toyota National Skills Contest Results:

Vehicle Sales Advisors

• 1st Place: Monde Siwale – Toyota Solwezi
• 2nd Place: Mwaka Mukela – Toyota Nangwenya
• 3rd Place: Masiliso Nyambe – Toyota Livingstone
• 4th Place: Ethel Mitti – Toyota Cairo Road
• 5th Place: Rita Kasakwa – Toyota Nangwenya

Technicians

• 1st Place: Henschels Chilufya – Wila Motors Kasama (ASC)
• 2nd Place: Daniel Miselo – Toyota Solwezi
• 3rd Place: Archie Musonda – Toyota Nangwenya
• 4th Place: Gerald Mumba – Toyota Kitwe
• 5th Place: Albert Phiri – Toyota Nangwenya

Parts Sales

• 1st Place: Mataka Mbangweta – Wila Motors Kasama (ASC)
• 2nd Place: Patric Lwipa – Toyota Nangwenya
• 3rd Place: Jethro Nyirongo – Toyota Solwezi
• 4th Place: Virgin Milinga – Toyota Cairo Road
• 5th Place: Stanley Mulonga – Toyota Solwezi

Parts Stores

• 1st Place: Juma Ndekela – Toyota Cairo Road
• 2nd Place: Derby Mushokabanji – Toyota Livingstone
• 3rd Place: Belly Makabakano – Toyota Nangwenya
• 4th Place: Motson Mudenda- Toyota Nangwenya
• 5th Place: James Kunda – Toyota Kitwe

National Vehicle Sales

• 1st Place: Chimfwembe Mwambazi – Toyota Cairo Road
• 2nd Place: Namangolwa Meleka – Toyota Cairo Road
• 3rd Place: Raymond Samulela – Toyota Nangwenya
• 4th Place: Valarie Mumba – Toyota Nagwenya
• 5th Place: Alinedi Daka – Toyota Cairo Road

A huge congratulations to all the winners and participants for their hard work and outstanding achievements! As we look forward to the regional competition in South Africa next year, we encourage all participants to continue sharpening their skills, setting their sights on even greater accomplishments.

This year’s National Skills Contest not only highlighted the skills of our top performers but also reinforced the importance of year-round training. Through online learning and practical sessions, we continue to push the boundaries of what we can achieve, ensuring that CFAO Mobility Zambia remains a leader in the automotive industry.

As we celebrate another successful contest, we remain committed to the growth and development of our people, knowing that their success is the foundation of our continued corporate achievements.

Here’s to the future, where every skill learned today leads to even greater success tomorrow!