How will Toyota apply the latest automotive technologies, such as ADAS technology, to its marine business? [Boat Show 2025]

Safe and easy maneuvering using Toyota’s ADAS

Unlike cars, boats are affected by wind and currents, and require expert skill for delicate maneuvering, especially at low speeds within harbors. Toyota, whose theme for this year’s boat show is “Contributing to a safe and secure marine life through automotive technology,” exhibited support functions that apply technologies used in automotive ADAS, such as lane keep assist, to make boat operation easier and safer.

TDS (Toyota Docking Support) can be thought of as a parking assistance system at sea. By using GPS to register the location of the place you want to return to before departing, the computer will assist you in smoothly docking at the mooring spot in the harbor.

TDA (Toyota Drive Assist) allows the boat to move forward and backward, move parallel in all directions, and turn on the spot using a joystick. In narrow spaces such as harbors, delicate steering at low speeds while reading the wind direction is required. This operation can be particularly challenging for beginners, but it is said to make direction corrections easier and enable smoother maneuvering than the previous steering wheel and throttle lever.

The more advanced version, “TDA+” (plus), adds a control system that allows the boat to autonomously correct its position if it is blown away by wind, etc. The driver can dock and leave the harbor with simple operations, just like a car, without having to worry about the tides.

Multipathway for boat engines

Toyota announced the 12-seater “premium cruiser” PONAM-35 sv in October last year. The hull measures 11.95m in length and 3.94m in width and is equipped with two 4.5-liter V8 diesel turbo engines with a maximum output of 370PS. Toyota has over 30 years of experience in the development and manufacturing of inboard marine engines.

According to a Marine Business Office representative, “We supply thousands of units annually to marine engine manufacturers.” Efforts are also being made to reduce CO2 emissions from marine engines. Multi-pathway technology is being adopted in the development of marine engines, including support for carbon-neutral fuels and hybridization.