Toyota unveils new research unit ensuring world’s safest mobility

The Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer Toyota Motor Corp revealed its Woven Planet research unit which ensures to deliver the world’s safest mobility as the automobile industry races to develop self-driving and connected cars.

During the virtual media event titled “The Genesis”, the executives of Woven Planet shared some features about the specific features of the project but said a new assisted-driving system would be mounted on the company’s passenger cars by the end of 2021. The company assures that it would be ready to present a fully self-driving prototype in the near future itself.

As the competition pressure from multinational companies likes Apple, Amazon and Sony increases on traditional automakers, Toyota is hoping to move forward with Woven Planet’s Silicon Valley approach with its storied Toyota Production System manufacturing process to develop the next generation of cars.

Even though fully self-driven cars would still take years to become reality Toyota’s rival General Motors earlier this month displayed its fully-autonomous all-electric flying Cadillac concept at the virtual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and Chinese search engine operator Baidu revealed a partnership deal with local car brand Geely.

The  Woven Planet research unit led by ex-Google roboticist James Kuffner, claims that it has the advantage of scale in collecting data key for developing artificial intelligence (AI) backed software through the millions of Toyota cars on the road across the globe. Toyota retook the position as the world’s best-selling automaker in 2020, dethroning Volkswagen.

“This is really only the beginning. We’re just getting started with our technology and innovation to change the world,” Mr. Kuffner said in a presentation, where he introduced key executives from the Woven Planet Group, including founding family scion Daisuke Toyoda, son of Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda.

Last year, Toyota had explained its plans to build a prototype “city of the future” called Woven City at the base of Mount Fuji powered by hydrogen fuel cells that would be a laboratory for autonomous cars.