Toyota has announced a new partnership with Weathernews that'll involve its connected cars, specifically their windshield wiper data. By using this information and pairing it with existing weather data, Toyota aims to improve the accuracy of weather forecasts and help improve safety for drivers. The test is being conducted in Aichi, Tokyo, and Osaka.
Toyota has announced that starting next summer in Japan, its Platform 4 (P4) automated driving test vehicle will begin offering rides to passengers. The rides in the autonomous car will be offered from July to September 2020. The P4 vehicle will demonstrate the Toyota SAE Level-4 capabilities in a mobility as a service driving environment.
Toyota has rolled out a new sports car for the Japanese market that is called the Copen GR Sport. The small car is a two-seat convertible sports car that meets the minivehicle standards in Japan. It is the first car in the "GR" series that was developed by Toyota Gazoo Racing. The ride is an OEM car that is manufactured by Daihatsu using the knowledge gained in the Toyota Gazoo Racing motorsports activity.
Talk about a glow-up: Toyota's fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) has flourished from caterpillar to butterfly, with the 2021 Mirai promising to be an eco-friendly car you actively want to drive. Previewed as the 2021 Toyota Mirai Sedan Concept ahead of the second-generation car's full debut in late 2020, the new model promises an increase in range from its hydrogen drivetrain, along with more engaging driving dynamics.
Toyota has unveiled the new LQ and says that the car aims to build an emotional bond with the driver. LQ is a concept car that is the next generation of the Toyota Concept-i car that was unveiled at CES 2017. LQ has level 4 automated driving capability and an integrated AI assistant.
Toyota is recalling 191,000 cars for a second airbag replacement, having discovered that the Takata replacement first installed could itself be faulty. The double recall impacts cars both in North America and Japan, and among some of Toyota's most popular models.
Japan is most famous for its sushi, anime, and, of course, robots so it's only natural that those will have a big presence in next year's biggest international sports events. It's also not surprising that Toyota, who has branched its robotics out into the mobility market is playing a big role in mixing the 2020 Olympics and robots. Don't expect giant mechas and Gundams, though, as Toyota's army of non-frightening robots will work to let people experience the event in a unique way, even from afar.
The 2020 Toyota Supra has gone on sale in the US, with the fifth-generation coupe finally arriving at dealerships. Toyota had been teasing fans - new and old - with the long-anticipated car's configurator for some time now, but the 2020 Supra is now actually available to order.
Toyota has introduced its new 'Accessible People Mover,' a shuttle featuring a futuristic design that will transport visitors during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Referred to as the APM, this vehicle was designed specifically for the Olympic Games, offering staff and visitors a last-mile transportation option that'll take riders to venues and events. The vehicle resembles a large, futuristic golf cart.
Toyota and the Japanese space agency JAXA have inked an agreement to build a hydrogen-powered lunar rover, which astronauts will be able to drive around the Moon to explore potential resources there. The joint research agreement will see the automaker and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency work together for three years on prototypes, though the final lunar rover isn't expected to launch until around 2029.
Toyota and two other firms have teamed up to test a new EV that has a battery pack that is charged by solar power. Toyota, NEDO, and Sharp have announced that they plan to test the vehicle on public roads starting in late July 2019. The trial will assess the effectiveness of improving the cruising range and fuel-efficiency of electrified vehicles using high-efficiency solar panels.
Toyota has announced that its CUE humanoid robot has set a new record for the greatest number of consecutive basketball free throws performed by a humanoid AI-powered machine. The robot successfully made 2,020 free throws in a row without missing, earning it a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. The CUE robot was born as a voluntary project for Toyota employees to work on in their spare time.