At CES 2025, Toyota’s chairman Akio Toyoda announced the automaker is exploring rocketry and space mobility, expanding its vision of “invention by multiplication.” Toyoda hinted at going beyond Earth-bound transportation, potentially challenging competitors like Tesla and SpaceX. The announcement included a partnership with Interstellar Technologies to explore satellite-based telecommunications to support Woven City, Toyota’s prototype smart city near Mount Fuji.
Woven City, now partially operational, requires seamless communication infrastructure for autonomous vehicles in its mountainous terrain. Toyota has invested 7 billion yen ($44.3 million) in Interstellar Technologies to tackle these challenges, combining space and automotive innovations to ensure uninterrupted connectivity.
Toyota’s pivot to space reflects a broader vision for the future of mobility. Once criticized for its cautious approach to electric vehicles, the company now appears to have aimed for a bigger goal: pushing technological boundaries and redefining mobility on Earth and beyond.
