Toyota builds last-one-mile solution for 2020 Olympics

Toyota, which is the global partner of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo, is developing a mobility solution called the APM or Accessible People Mover designed expressly for use at the Games.

In line with its overall mission of ‘Mobility for All’, the APM will offer a ‘last-one-mile’ solution that helps transport as many people as possible to events and venues, including athletes and staff related to the Games as well as all types of visitors with accessibility needs such as the elderly, people with impairments, pregnant women, and families with small children, among others.

The APM essentially is a low-speed, short-distance battery electric vehicle (BEV) suitable for transportation of visitors and staff within large event/venue grounds. It will feature three-row seating. In the first row will be the driver's seat, the second row provides seating for three, and the third row will offer seating for two, allowing total seating for six people, five passengers and one driver. When used for passengers in wheelchairs, the configuration can be modified by folding the seats to allow the wheelchair rider in the second row.

With safety in mind, the position of the driver's seat has been elevated and centrally located in order to allow the driver to see passengers and support their individual needs as they enter/exit the vehicle. Passenger seats are accessible from both sides of the vehicle, and the overall design considers varying customers' needs, with safety bars on both sides to help passengers while entering and exiting the vehicle, and fitted with wheelchair anchor plates and ramps to enable the optimal access and transportation of wheelchair passengers.

It is also expected that part of the fleet of APMs will be used to support relief activities at events/venues during summer. During the Games, Toyota will employ approximately 200 APMs to support the transportation of visitors and staff around various facilities, including places where events or competitions are held and non-event official sites such as the Olympic Village.