POLE POSITION: HOW TOYOTA TOOK THE DRIVER'S SEAT AT THE 2025 JAPAN MOBILITY SHOW

At the biannual Japan Mobility Show 2025 still ongoing at the sprawling Big Sight Convention Center just a few minutes from downtown Tokyo, Toyota's enormous exhibit, which filled up the whole South Hall of Big Sight, showcased a broad spectrum of mobility concepts -not just your mainstream four-wheeled vehicles, but innovative new personal mobility concepts addressing highly diverse global transportation needs.

- By MANNY N. DE LOS REYES

The Toyota Hiace Concept The Land Cruiser FJ drew lots of crowds at JMS 2025 Sport utility wheelchair-Toyota makes an all-terrain assisted mobility vehicle The Lexus Catamaran and the personal air mobility craft co-developed with Joby

For those who feel that the sedan is dead, what is arguably the most respected automotive brand in the world showcased a bold new concept of its perennially bestselling compact sedan, the Toyota Corolla Concept.

While the front end retains familiar styling treatments from the latest Toyotas, the overall look expresses a very sporty, coupe-like design with a large, slanted windshield, a swooping roofline, and even a rear wing.

Attesting to the sheer diversity of Toyota's booth was the modular utility concept Toyota IMV Origin — built with the idea of serving emerging markets and rough-terrain use, where end users may finish or customize the vehicle themselves.

Easily one of the vehicles that drew the biggest crowds was the almost-production-ready Land Cruiser FJ, which, despite being smaller than the now-phased out FJ Cruiser, seems all set to take off where the previous FJ left off.

From a strategic viewpoint, Toyota is underscoring its rapid transformation into a full mobility company employing various levels of electrification, connectivity, and autonomy alongside its more conventional vehicles.