As reported earlier, in September 2023 MONET Technologies Inc.—a joint venture with SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434), Toyota Motor Corporation and other Japan-based automotive manufacturers—Toyota Motor Corporation, Hoei Kotsu, Studio Ghibli and Aichi Prefecture announced that an electric vehicle based on the “Cat Bus” from Studio Ghibli’s animated film “My Neighbor Totoro” was in the works.
On February 27, 2024, representatives from these organizations took part in a ceremony at Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park to officially unveil the “APM Cat Bus” and announce that it will make trips within the park starting on March 16.
What is an APM Cat Bus?
The “APM Cat Bus” is based on the “APM (Accessible People Mover),” a short-range, low-speed mobility vehicle developed by Toyota Motor Corporation, and under the supervision of Goro Miyazaki, director of Studio Ghibli, the vehicle was created in the image of the “Cat Bus” character in the Studio Ghibli film “My Neighbor Totoro.” The exterior of the vehicle is rounded and shaped like a cat. The exterior is rounded in shape and painted with a low gloss paint job to give the impression of a “living creature that seems ready to move.” The interior seats are made of a long-furred material and have a paw-like appearance to express the image of the “Cat Bus.”
The APM Cat Bus shuttle will connect Mononoke Village and Dondoko Forest in the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park, and its route runs through a forest that is usually not accessible to park goers. A one-way trip takes approximately 10 minutes and a vehicle can carry up to 5 passengers. One-way tickets will cost 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for children from 4 years to elementary school age (children 3 and under can ride for free, but need to be accompanied by adults).
MONET, together with Aichi Prefecture and companies like Toyota Motor Corporation, has been working to enhance the attractiveness of the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park by making transportation within it more enjoyable and comfortable, and the APM Cat Bus was developed as a result of these planning activities. By offering transportation on the APM Cat Bus, MONET and its partners will aim to provide a unique experience that can only be enjoyed at the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park.
Representatives from Studio Ghibli, Toyota Motor Corporation, Aichi Prefecture (Governor), MONET, Hoei Kotsu and the Aichi Prefectural Assembly hold a placard to unveil the APM Cat Bus (left to right)
For more details on how and where to ride the APM Cat Bus, please visit this dedicated website.
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(Posted on February 28, 2024)
by SoftBank News Editors
