Articles for ITS market Planning stage products are exhibited at the newly established visualized mobility service "TOYOTA MOBILITY SHOWROOM".
The background and creation of the showroom is based on "visualization" mobility services.
At the entrance of the showroom, a brief description showing the purpose of opening.Toyota has launched a new challenge for mobility.
On August 1, 2018, Toyota opened the "TOYOTA MOBILITY SHOWROOM” in Tokyo as a facility to offer information to corporations. The showroom is available in downtown Tokyo with the nearest station at Ningyocho station of the Hibiya subway line or at the Hamacho station of the metropolitan Shinjuku line.
Why did Toyota create this type showroom at these locations?
Actually the building’s first floor where the showroom is located also has the head office of the Toyota Mobility Service. This new company was created in 2018 when Toyota Fleet Lease and Toyota Rent-A-Lease Tokyo merged. The reason for establishing the company is related to mobility services which are now entering a major transformation period.
In the existing framework of the automobile service industry including car rental and business fleet leasing, it has become more difficult to respond to new mobility services due to the rapidly growing ride sharing services in the United States and Europe.
The Toyota Mobility Service was created through negotiations with Toyota dealers and Toyota related parts manufacturers who are customers of the company. All had similar interests and the subject "I would like to negotiate while seeing the real thing" was raised. Unlike traditional automobile-related business where hardware is central, new mobility services center on big data and software and are "quite invisible" even to professionals in the automobile industry. Considering this reality, it is difficult concept to grasp.
Therefore, regarding mobility services it tries to help everyone "visualize" one of Toyota's corporate philosophy’s using its newly established mobility showroom.
The most popular attraction is the VR experience.
Inside of TOYOTA MOBILITY SHOWROOM. i-ROAD and Winglet are shown in the center.
You can experience the latest preventive safety technology using VR (virtual reality).
Upon entering the showroom, the "i-ROAD" display of ultra-small mobility platform and the "Winglet" stand-up type robot stand out in the center. These two products have been carrying out demonstration tests over the past several years, but due to various country regulations there is no possibility of mass production at this time. Unfortunately, Toyota does not offer test rides in showroom or in the immediate area. In the mobility society of the near future, Toyota will continue to appeal to countries and automobile users regarding new vehicles using such hardware.
Also as an experience type exhibition, there is a system that utilizes VR (virtual reality) technology. There are few opportunities to experience automotive software using the latest VR in such showrooms, although it is often exhibited at the motor shows.
Current content is related to Toyota's preventive safety technology. The latest type "Toyota Support Sense" is adopted from the "Vitz" compact car and the "Crown" luxury car, but there are few opportunities for users to actually experience all functions. According to the showroom officials there are cases when the general public enters the showroom and happens to see the VR experience machine in the showroom and say "I want to experience it."
Not only officials in the automobile industry who visit Toyota Mobility Service have access, it is also open to public during normal business hours.
Existing products coexist with planning stage products
There are various exhibits on mobility services such as automotive hardware and smartphone applications in the showroom. Although some products are already on sale, there are various other products which are in the commercialization verification test or preparation stage.
I will introduce and direct your attention to some of these products.
TransLog
Toyota is doing demonstration tests of TransLog by the taxis in Tokyo.It was developed mainly for commercial vehicles such as taxis and trucks.
Data of in-vehicle ECU (Electronic Control Unit) is gathered on a wired line to CAN (Controller Area Network) and data is analyzed on the Toyota dedicated cloud. Each feature is equipped and uses a dedicated camera. By gathering surroundings image information of the vehicle it is possible to grasp traffic conditions in "close to real time".
Currently it is mounted on about 500 taxis in Tokyo and Toyota is continuing the verification testing.
SKB（Smart Key Box）
SKB hardware which can be operated remotely using a smartphoneA smartphone provides the function of a car key. Communication is through Bluetooth. If you make a showroom reservation in advance you can observe how to lock and unlock the actual car located in the building parking lot using SKB.
Currently a division of Toyota Rent a Car is conducting demonstration testing.
Automotive multi display holder for smart phones and mobile devices.
Ms. Takako Yamada of Planning Department, Toyota Motor Corporation Mobility Service developed the Automotive multi display holderIt is intended to leverage and use existing mobile devices such as smart phones in existing vehicles that do not have the latest car type navigation system.
It has flexible movement in all directions including left-right and up-and-down directions. This provides optimal versatility for all type vehicles and driver seating positions. Communication with car-mounted equipment is also considered in the design.
Toyota is carrying out endurance tests in severe conditions including installing for navigators at the Japanese Rally Championship.
Toyota developed it for both Toyota’s current and future vehicles and also for other car manufacturers existing vehicles.
A dedicated application with incentives for Komeda coffee
Application for eliminating smartphone use while driving in cooperation with Komeda coffeeIt is an application created to eliminate the use of a smartphone while driving. When traveling with the display screen of the smartphone facing down while in motion, the app issues a coupon for Komeda coffee based on the distance traveled. The demonstration test has already been completed, and there is a proven track record that the number of arrests using smartphones while driving is decreasing.
In addition to these exhibitors from Toyota, related companies such as KDDI and DENSO are also available.
See the web https://t-mobility-showroom.jp/
Note: Above web is Japanese language only.
Writer introduction
Mr. Kenji Momota Automotive journalist
His major is the world automotive industry and he is also familiar with the energy industry, IT and the aging society problem as the related fields. He acts around the world based in Japan and USA and writes for the general magazines, the technology journals and the automotive related media etc.
He is also commentator of motor race and world's motor show on TV program based on his career of the driver of Indy Racing League and NASCAR. In recent years, he has been covering about a paradigm shift from developed countries to developing countries, the motorized vehicle like EV and the telematics.
GPS/GNSS Receiver&Chips and Modules (positioning and timing)
FURUNO ITS Journal
Click here for the latest articles after 2022 (in Japanese)2022
- The "realistic" self-driving roadmap shown by the Japanese government and a hands-on report on the latest Subaru EyeSight X
- Will FCVs (Fuel Cell Vehicles) Become Popular? ～New Movement in Toyota and Honda～
- The 'Complete' online sales of new cars start in Japan. Will this new way of buying cars take root?
- Many Firsts! On-Site Report from Tokyo Auto Salon 2022 - The author, who knows what goes on behind the scenes, looks back on 40 years of history. -
2021
- "Moving toward zero traffic fatalities for four-wheeled and two-wheeled vehicles globally in 2050" ～Experience on Honda's latest safety technologies～
- Tsuneishi Shipbuilding's building and DX, an exclusive visit to the main factory
- Japan's Smart City: New Moves toward Practical Use
- When will self-driving buses (service cars) be put to "full-scale" practical use?
- Utilization vehicle data during disasters
- Toyota-led Connected Technology to Transform Commercial Vehicle Business -From light trucks to large trucks and buses-
- Toyota enters the connected car "Personalization" business
- Japanese automakers' carbon-neutral strategies swept up in ESG investment
- Drive experience of the latest autonomous vehicle models and advanced driving support systems
- Will carbon neutrality accelerate the trend to strengthen LCA (Life Cycle Assessment)?
- Semiconductor shortage exposes realities of the automotive industry
- Online Autonomous Driving Contest Enhancing development of Human Resources
2020
- What happens to CASE when gas cars are banned in Japan?
- When will Flying Cars be launched?
- Expectation vs. reality：Autonomous Driving in Japan
- V2X, Becoming increasingly important in autonomous driving
- Technology of Subaru “EyeSight X”
- Lifestyle-oriented French cars gain popularity in Japan
- Human-oriented smart cities are wanted
- MaaS and CASE, how would automotive industry change after COVID-19?
- The beginning of virtualization era, triggered by COVID-19
- Trend of EV shift and consumer demands
- TOYOTA Press conference about ADAS - Releasing algorithm for "sudden acceleration suppression during attempted sudden acceleration" free of charge -
- The Japanese automotive industry in 2020 - 3 turning points -
- "Using a smartphone while driving" and "Level 3 automated driving"
2019
- Motor show business model is at a turning point - Tokyo Motor Show Report -
- Commercialization and monetization of MaaS - ITS World Congress Singapore Report -
- Android Automotive pays attention to V2X - Report from the Frankfurt Motor Show 2019 in Germany -
- Automobile Distribution Revolution and DCM (Data Communication Module)
- Connected business potential and newly proposed "eMaaS" by Honda
- 5G services for practical use are multiplying
- Connectivity technologies attracting attention due to frequent traffic accidents
- Shanghai Motor Show report -SUV, EV, Automated car & 5G-
- Drone Business roadmap and updates to Michibiki (Quasi-Zenith Satellite System)
- MaaS (Mobility as a Service) "town development." Full-scale promotion for a national project
- CES organizer states "Data Period in 2020s." Transformation of the Automotive Industry in CES, US "-CES2019 Report-"
- "Return to Origin" directed towards the age of change, automatic operation and connectivity
2018
- New proposal for Private Car Automated Driving Level and other Hot 5G Technology Topics
- Standardized EV charging infrastructure concerns in Europe, US, Japan and China - Kobe EVS 31 field report -
- Touring a pure car carrier and a test drive of the latest hybrid car
- Planning stage products are exhibited at the newly established visualized mobility service "TOYOTA MOBILITY SHOWROOM".
- Potential “Community Car-share” program promoted by local residents
- CES Asia Report 2108
- Companies attempt new Vehicle-to-Infrastructure communications, including traffic volume measurements and vehicle positioning. -ITS Asia Pacific Forum in Fukuoka-
- Geneva show in Switzerland. Flying cars and MaaS (Mobility as a Service) were hot topics.
- EV (Electric Vehicle) proposals by country
- MaaS competition through service mobilization, M & A and technical field collaboration is accelerating. - The CES 2018 Report -
2017
- Big data’s initiative and fight for the automotive industry. Cooperation among companies becomes increasingly important.
- Connected car and road-to-vehicle communication automatic operation
- ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) and ETC2.0. Current situation and projected future
- Rapid development of sharing economy
- Germany is first to recognize level 3 automated driving
- ITS EU 2017 Field Reports -Automatic Operation and the eCall-
- From Infotainment to ITS, the competitive area is spreading in the car big data industry.
- GTC (GPU Technology Conference) Report and the de facto standardization of AI (artificial intelligence)
- Renesas' new challenge! "e-AI Solution" and "Renesas Autonomy"
- The Automobile industry is shifting from a manufacturing industry to a service industry.
- The movement toward accident countermeasures for aging drivers in Japan
- Fusion of ride sharing and fully automated driving is advancing in the USA.
2016
- Overview of the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) and advancements toward full-scale practical use including the Tokyo Olympic Games - G-space EXPO 2016 report-
- Japan’s automated driving project "SIP-adus" will be a large demonstration experiment.
- The International Home Care & Rehabilitation Exhibition. There were many car manufactures with exhibits booths at this show.
- Japanese car manufacturers starting to concentrate on strengthening the ADAS system
- A new movement of legislation for autonomous cars
- Cyber Security and “AGL”, the new OS for automotive are hot topics in the connected car industry
- “High precision 3D map” the key future of autonomous car and pedestrian dead reckoning
- Chinese “BAT” is accelerating their business in the EV (Electric Vehicle) market
- Tesla's original connection to Taiwan and the new transportation system technologies.
- "The main topic" of the Geneva Motor Show was how to strengthen "pedestrian protection"
- The probe data business is getting more competitive
- Reporting directly from the 2016 CES show "Data services will soon become the main revenue source of automotive industry"
2015
- Do the automated driving systems need the GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) ?
- ETC Version 2.0 is coming soon. A new service was announced at the Tokyo Motor Show and the possibility that is could be used as a device for older drivers.
- "Connected Horizon" and "eHorizon". Germany's leading parts supplier accelerates strengthening of "Big Data" for business