丰田将向日本太空初创公司 Interstellar 投资超 4400 万美元

According to the Zhitong Finance APP, Japanese space startup Interstellar Technologies, which develops satellite launch rockets, announced on Tuesday that Toyota Motor (TM.US) will invest 7 billion yen (approximately 44.4 million USD) through its mobility technology subsidiary Woven by Toyota.

It is reported that Interstellar Technologies aims to mass-produce lightweight rockets and one day compete with large companies for a share of the growing commercial space industry. Toyota stated that the company hopes to leverage its experience in mass-producing automobiles to collaborate with Interstellar Technologies in rocket production.

In a statement, Interstellar Technologies noted that Japan conducted three rocket launches in 2023 and has significant room for improvement before achieving its goal of launching 30 times annually by the first half of the 2030s. The company stated that to fulfill this commitment, Japan will need to "structurally transform its domestic aerospace industry." The company aims to "transform rocket manufacturing into a high-quality, low-cost, and scalable process by utilizing expertise from the automotive 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 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 car 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 precision instruments used to collect data in low Earth orbit, the country's geographical location is far from ideal for establishing a vast network of launch facilities.

Toyota's investment in Interstellar Technologies is the latest sign of progress by the Japanese government in nurturing its domestic private aerospace companies. However, for fledgling startups, keeping pace with the leaders in this fast-paced and competitive field remains a challenge