Toyota to Establish Dedicated Robotics Unit
By Greg Bock · · 2 min read
Insider Brief
- Toyota Motor Corp. plans to establish Toyota Robotics on Jan. 1, 2027, bringing together its robotics research, engineering and development operations under a companywide organization led by operating officer Takefumi Shiga.
- The automaker sees internal demand for 400,000 robots and plans to develop its technology in Toyota factories before selling robots to other manufacturers, with robotics expected to contribute to sales growth from 2030 onward.
- Toyota will draw on expertise from 18,000 skilled workers across 60 plants worldwide to train its robots, combining AI with its manufacturing systems while expanding deployments at Woven City and developing applications beyond factories.
Toyota Motor Corp. plans to establish a companywide robotics organization to bring together its research, engineering and development efforts as it makes robotics a “key pillar” of its future business.
According to Toyota, the new organization, called Toyota Robotics, will operate under direct corporate oversight beginning Jan. 1, 2027, according to a company announcement. Takefumi Shiga, Toyota’s operating officer and chief production officer, will lead the unit while retaining his existing responsibilities.
Toyota said the organization will consolidate robotics-related efforts and personnel currently spread across the company while tapping its manufacturing and engineering expertise in order to speed up robot development, commercialization and deployment, especially in environments where employees perform physical work. Toyota also stressed that it sees robots as tools to assist workers rather than replace them.
During Toyota’s Nov. 5 earnings call, Chief Financial Officer Yoichi Miyazaki said the automaker sees internal demand for 400,000 robots and an annual requirement of 1 trillion yen, or about $6.4 billion, to replace aging equipment as opportunities to develop its robotics business. Toyota plans to refine its technology in its own factories before selling robots to other manufacturers and eventually expanding into applications beyond manufacturing. The company expects robotics to contribute to steady sales growth from 2030 onward.
Toyota indicated it will draw on data and expertise from 18,000 skilled workers across 60 plants worldwide to improve its robots, combining AI with its Toyota Production System. Miyazaki also outlined plans to use the company’s Arene autonomous driving software platform and factory control technology to coordinate robotic operations. Toyota will accelerate robot deployments at Woven City and extend skills developed in its factories to everyday environments.
The robotics organization is part of a wider restructuring announced Nov. 5 that includes changes to Toyota’s engineering, research and management operations. The company is also reorganizing its advanced research functions to connect technology development more closely with practical applications.
