Construction Commences at Woven City: Akio's Vow Affirmed at Groundbreaking Event

In a historic moment, the groundbreaking ceremony for Woven City, a prototype city of the future initiated by Toyota, took place on February 23. The city will be built on the place and history of the Higashi-Fuji Plant, marking a new chapter on the land that once hummed with the production of over 7.52 million vehicles.

The Higashi-Fuji Plant, established in 1968, was a significant investment for Toyota Motor East Japan (TMEJ). Over the years, it contributed to the growth of Toyota and Japan's motorization, with its peak employment reaching 2,000 members. A total of 7,000 members worked at the plant, producing iconic vehicles such as the Toyota Century and JPN Taxi.

The Higashi-Fuji Plant's history came to an end on December 9, 2020, but its spirit lives on. Akio Toyoda, the host of the closing ceremony, made a promise that the values and spirit of always thinking about others and their feelings first will be inherited by all members in developing the city.

Akio Toyoda had made a personal promise to Higashi-Fuji Plant members back in July 2018 to transform the plant into a Connected City. The Connected City concept was for a large-scale demonstration experiment for autonomous driving and other purposes. In December 2020, he made another promise that Woven City would always be human-centered.

The Higashi-Fuji Workshop, where Kanto Auto Works started production of vehicles, was the birthplace of this vision. The promise was not yet approved by the company at that time, but it was a commitment made to members who think of others.

Woven City, built on the Higashi-Fuji Plant, aspires to weave the history of the plant into the future of the town. The groundbreaking ceremony for this futuristic city was held at the old vehicle yard adjacent to the former Higashi-Fuji Plant of TMEJ. On this day, Akio Toyoda reiterated his commitment to making continuous efforts to contribute to a sustainable society through the Higashi-Fuji Plant by improving quality and environmental performance.

As Woven City takes shape, it promises to be more than just a city of the future. It is a testament to Toyota's commitment to innovation, sustainability, and most importantly, to the people who have been a part of its journey.

Construction Commences at Woven City: Akio's Vow Affirmed at Groundbreaking Event