Interstellar Technologies在一份声明中表示，日本在2023年进行了三次火箭发射，在实现到本世纪30年代上半叶每年发射30次的目标之前还有很大的改进空间。该公司表示，为了兑现这一承诺，日本将需要“对国内航天产业进行结构性转型”。该公司表示，其目标是“利用汽车行业的专业知识，包括丰田的生产方法，将火箭制造转变为高质量、低成本和可扩展的过程”。On Tuesday, Interstellar Technologies announced that Toyota Motor will invest 7 billion yen (approximately 44.4 million dollars) through its mobility technology subsidiary, Woven by Toyota.
According to Zhicheng Finance APP, Japanese space startup Interstellar Technologies, which is developing Satellite Launch Vehicles, announced on Tuesday that Toyota Motor (TM.US) will invest 7 billion yen (approximately 44.4 million dollars) through its mobile technology subsidiary, Woven by Toyota.
It is reported that Interstellar Technologies aims to mass-produce lightweight rockets and eventually compete with major companies for a share of the growing commercial space industry. Toyota stated that the company hopes to leverage its experience in mass-producing Autos and collaborate with Interstellar Technologies to produce rockets.
Interstellar Technologies stated in a press release that Japan conducted three rocket launches in 2023, and there is significant room for improvement before achieving the target of launching 30 times a year by the first half of this century. The company noted that to fulfill this promise, Japan will need to undergo a 'structural transformation of its domestic aerospace industry.' The company aims to 'transform rocket manufacturing into a high-quality, low-cost, and scalable process by leveraging expertise from the automobile industry, including Toyota's production methods.'
Toyota Motor Chairman Akio Toyoda hinted at this investment during a speech at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, USA, on Monday. Akio Toyoda stated that Toyota's interest in rockets is part of the company's broader efforts to innovate in the Transportation sector. He also mentioned that Toyota hopes to compete with SpaceX, stating, 'Future mobility should not be limited to Earth or a single automobile company.'
In November last year, the Japanese government began announcing recipients of its Strategic Fund, which will distribute 1 trillion yen to various startups, manufacturers, and research Institutions over the next decade. While Japanese companies have been praised for their Satellites and precise instruments used to collect data in near-Earth orbit, the country's geography is far from suitable for establishing a massive network of launch facilities.
Toyota's investment in Interstellar Technologies is the latest sign of progress made by the Japanese government in nurturing domestic private aerospace companies. However, it remains a challenge for fledgling startups to keep pace with the leaders in this fast-paced and competitive field.
