In May 2025, the Corolla Cross received a partial upgrade that includes Signal Road Projection, a new safety feature designed with "you" in mind. We share the story behind its development and the vision of the developers who brought it to life.
Takatoshi Nakagawa, General Manager, Body Technology Development Div.
I told Seki, if we roll out the technology in the Corolla, the impact will be that much greater. It’s not going to be easy, but let’s do it.
Technical and regulatory challenges
In the fall of 2024, Koito Manufacturing presented their Signal Road Projection prototype to Toyota. The instant the lights went on, the room fell silent.
General Manager Nakagawa
The contours of the chevrons were fuzzy, and unwanted streaks of light were leaking out. All in all, the result wasn’t quite what we had in mind.
Kitazawa
At the prototype stage, we hadn't been able to bring it up to the required level of quality, and I'm sorry for all the trouble we caused Toyota. We assured them we would refine the design to project the chevrons exactly as they envisioned, and thankfully they believed in us.
These cycles of checking and fine-tuning continued even after the molds were made. By early 2025, the system was at last ready for final testing in an actual vehicle.
General Manager Nakagawa
The prototypes had never produced such a sharp chevron pattern on the ground, so I remember being really pleased.
Installing the units in the vehicle involved repeated assessments to determine the best angle and position of the lights on the road surface.
Noritaka Kawano, TC Body Electronics Design Div.
If the light is directed too far to the sides, it ends up hitting walls or other obstacles, which doesn’t achieve the desired effect. On the other hand, if you project it forward too much, it becomes harder for pedestrians to notice when the vehicle is turning toward them.
Searching for the angle that provided optimal visibility, the team worked with test drivers to put the system through its paces in actual vehicles across a range of scenarios, from crossing a sidewalk when exiting a parking lot to narrow alleys in residential areas, left turns with bicycles weaving through traffic, and even overseas roundabouts.
Another crucial step was obtaining confirmation from the Automobile Type Approval Test Department*. At present, Japanese regulations do not contain any specific provisions about projecting light from a vehicle onto the road, so it was unclear whether this system would be permitted.
*An organization that conducts fair, impartial examinations to confirm whether automobiles, etc. comply with certification standards.
If the situation is interpreted simply as light from the front turn signal illuminating the road surface, then it complies with current regulations.
Most importantly, the feature contributes to improved safety by helping to prevent collisions with pedestrians and cyclists. Through continued dialogue, Kawano and his colleagues made this case to the Automobile Type Approval Test Department, and received their approval.
Guided by “TO YOU”
In the fall of 2025, Toyota unveiled a new brand strategy centered on the concept of “TO YOU.” Instead of broad solutions that try to serve everyone at once, the company strives to keep creating products for specific individuals—“you.”
Having overcome both the technical and regulatory challenges to reach mass production, the team regards Signal Road Projection as an expression of the “TO YOU” philosophy.
General Manager Nakagawa
The wooden loom invented by Sakichi Toyoda was born out of his desire to make life easier for his mother, who worked hard as a weaver. Across the generations, this mindset of working “for you” remains a cherished part of Toyota.
However, as engineers, we all possess a kind of ego that pushes us to build certain things. But do they truly benefit other people? I believe this philosophy serves as a guidepost that brings us back to that fundamental question.
As for Seki, he treasures the words of Tatsuo Hasegawa, the chief engineer who developed the first-generation Corolla for “the happiness and well-being of everyone on Earth.”
He sees these words reflected in the history of the Corolla, whose lineup has continued to expand from sedans to hatchbacks, station wagons, and SUVs, in keeping with the needs of the times.
Project Manager Seki
For those of us working on the Corolla, “TO YOU” is about creating a car that brings happiness to each and every person who buys one. We decided to add Signal Road Projection as another feature that contributes to this happiness.
In that sense, I think this technology exemplifies how that vision is brought to life.
“When Signal Road Projection spreads beyond a single car to many other vehicles, that’s when we will see the true safety benefits,” says Kitazawa of Koito Manufacturing.
This sentiment is echoed by Seki, who says, “We want to keep adding this feature to other models, as a high-quality, affordable technology that can deliver greater safety to customers.”
We look forward to seeing how this technology, the embodiment of Toyota’s “TO YOU” philosophy, will spread from one car to the next.