On Friday, October 11, Toyota Motor Corporation announced that the theme for its booth at the Tokyo Motor Show 2019 will be "PLAY, THE FUTURE," showcasing vehicles that allow visitors to experience the future. The company will also exhibit the "e-Palette," a dedicated autonomous electric vehicle for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

At the Tokyo Motor Show 2019, Toyota will present a "future mobility society." They plan to unveil a "mobility theme park" where "people of the future" will greet visitors, allowing them to experience the future through interaction and observation.

Meanwhile, details were also announced for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics-specific model of the "e-Palette," an electric vehicle featuring connected and autonomous driving technologies, which Toyota touts as a symbol of its transformation into a mobility company.

As a Worldwide Mobility Partner for the Olympics and Paralympics, Toyota will provide over ten e-Palette vehicles during the Tokyo 2020 Games. These will serve as shuttle buses within the Olympic Village, supporting the transportation of athletes and Games officials.

With a body size of 5,255mm in length, 2,065mm in width, and 2,760mm in height, the vehicle features a symmetrical box design. By placing the wheels at the four corners, it can accommodate up to 20 passengers. In configurations for wheelchair users, it can carry 4 wheelchair users plus 7 standing passengers, totaling 11 people.

The interior is designed for ease of use regardless of height, with handrails and seats that are accessible to everyone. It also incorporates contrasting colors for the floor and interior panels to aid those with color vision deficiencies. This design embodies Toyota's concept for the Games' Worldwide Mobility Partner: "Mobility for All."

While one operator will be onboard, the vehicle is equipped with a custom-developed autonomous driving system integrated with Toyota's vehicle control platform. It operates at a low speed of up to 19 km/h using high-precision 3D maps and operational management, with a cruising range of approximately 150 km.

The vehicle constantly detects obstacles in a 360-degree radius and is equipped with an emergency stop brake that allows the onboard operator to safely halt the vehicle in case of system malfunction. Furthermore, during autonomous operation, front and rear lamps are used to communicate the vehicle's status to those around it, similar to making eye contact, indicating whether it is "driving," "charging," or "stopped. Please go ahead."

The Tokyo Motor Show 2019 will be open to the public from Friday, October 25, to Monday, November 4, 2019.