Japanese automaker Toyota is venturing into the realm of rocketry, as announced by chairman Akio Toyoda during his presentation at CES 2025 on Monday. He suggested the potential for transporting individuals through space.
Toyoda’s reference to rocketry occurred while he was discussing his vision of the company’s diverse technologies, which he described as “invention by kakezan,” or “invention by multiplication.”
He stated, “When it comes to what’s possible when you work together, the sky’s the limit.” After a brief pause, he added, “And speaking of the sky, we’re exploring rockets, too. Because the future of mobility shouldn’t be confined to just Earth, or just one car company,” which may have been a subtle reference to Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk, who is also the founder of SpaceX.
Initially, Toyoda did not provide specific details, but he did present a visual of a rocket designed by Interstellar Technologies, a private Japanese spaceflight firm focused on developing a small launch vehicle for satellite deployment. Following the conference, Toyoda and other executives expanded on this concept, informing TechCrunch that the company is collaborating with Interstellar Technologies to determine the telecommunications network necessary to support Woven City, a prototype city spanning 175 acres at the base of Mount Fuji, intended to serve as a living laboratory. Toyota first revealed plans for this city in 2020 and announced that the initial phase is now operational.
Hajime Kumabe, the CEO of Woven by Toyota, explained to TechCrunch during a media briefing, “When you think about cars that will be constantly moving, you need to have appropriate telecommunications. This means that the communication should not be interrupted or disrupted, ensuring seamless connectivity.” He also highlighted that Woven City’s mountainous terrain makes it essential to investigate the suitable communication network infrastructure to support autonomous vehicles.
The executives have also disclosed that Woven by Toyota has allocated an investment of 7 billion yen, approximately $44.3 million, towards Interstellar Technologies.
The concept of spaceflight is an intriguing notion to introduce at the conclusion of a press conference, although such a strategy does have some historical context. Five years ago, Sony unexpectedly revealed its involvement in electric vehicle development during CES, dedicating only a few minutes to this announcement.
In contrast, Toyota has faced criticism for its overly cautious approach to electric vehicle development over the years. However, this strategy may now appear to be a wise decision as major automakers are reassessing their ambitious electrification plans. It is possible that Toyota has been focusing on a significantly different objective — space exploration.
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