Toyota’s Bold Leap: From Roads to Rockets
At the CES 2025 event, Toyota’s chairman Akio Toyoda took the stage with a surprising announcement: the automaker is venturing into the realm of rockets. This intriguing revelation came amidst Toyoda’s discussion on his company’s innovative philosophy, referred to as “invention by kakezan,” which translates to “invention by multiplication.” He emphasized the limitless possibilities when collaboration is at the forefront, stating, “The sky’s the limit.” Then, after a thoughtful pause, he added, “And speaking of the sky, we’re exploring rockets, too. Because the future of mobility shouldn’t be limited to just Earth, or just one car company.” This remark appeared to be a subtle nod towards Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk, who also heads SpaceX.
Though Toyoda initially offered little detail beyond showcasing a rocket design by Interstellar Technologies—a private Japanese spaceflight company developing small launch vehicles for satellite deployment—further insights were shared post-conference. In a conversation with TechCrunch, Toyoda and other Toyota executives revealed their collaboration with Interstellar Technologies aims to develop a telecommunications network to support Woven City. This prototype city spans 175 acres at Mount Fuji’s base and serves as a living laboratory. Announced in 2020 and now partially operational, Woven City exemplifies Toyota’s vision for future urban living.
“When you think about cars that will be constantly moving, you need to have appropriate telecommunications,” explained Hajime Kumabe, CEO of Woven by Toyota. “This means that communication should not be interrupted or disrupted, ensuring seamless connectivity.”
{Hajime Kumabe}
Given Woven City’s mountainous location, exploring the right communication network infrastructure to support autonomous vehicles is crucial. Additionally, Toyota has invested 7 billion yen (approximately $44.3 million) in Interstellar Technologies, underscoring their commitment to this ambitious venture.
The notion of branching into space exploration was indeed a dramatic twist at the end of Toyoda’s presentation. Yet, it isn’t entirely without precedent; remember when Sony unexpectedly announced its electric car project at CES five years ago? While Toyota has faced criticism for its cautious approach towards electric vehicles, this strategic patience might reveal a grander vision—one that reaches far beyond our planet.
