The Toyota Lunar Cruiser off-road project is part of NASA’s Artemis program – a mission to establish a long-term human presence on the moon. The Lunar Cruiser is envisioned as a mobile base with a pressurized cabin, allowing astronauts to live and work right inside the vehicle, without having to constantly wear bulky spacesuits.

The ability to maintain living conditions in the harsh environment on the moon is the breakthrough that makes Lunar Cruiser an indispensable part of humanity's space conquest strategy.

The moon is not an easy place to “roll”. The terrain is full of craters, sharp rocks and superfine dust, requiring a completely different movement system. The Toyota Lunar Cruiser off-road SUV is equipped with a 6-wheel independent system that is flexible and capable of operating strongly on all terrains.

The special feature is the air-filled metal tire developed by Bridgestone. This tire is extremely durable, can withstand extreme temperatures ranging from -170°C to +120°C, and is also resistant to cosmic radiation and long-term wear – factors that are vital in lunar environmental conditions.

The Toyota Lunar Cruiser off-road SUV to the moon has a very practical design with: Length: 6 meters. Capacity: 2 astronauts in a pressurized cabin environment. Turning radius: 10 meters. Maximum speed: 10 km/h.

While not fast, the vehicle is designed to operate stably in an environment with only one-sixth the gravity of Earth, where traction and reliability are more important than speed.

The car’s energy source comes from the RFC (Regenerative Fuel Cell) system – a combination of solar energy and hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells. This helps the car operate sustainably and independently for many days without resupply.

The Lunar Cruiser has passed initial tests at NASA's Johnson Space Center and Toyota's Higashi-Fuji Technical Center, two locations that simulate lunar conditions, helping to verify the vehicle's performance in the most realistic environment possible.

Toyota and JAXA aim to have a mission-ready prototype by 2027, coinciding with the Artemis program entering the lunar field deployment phase.

The Toyota Lunar Cruiser is more than just an exploration vehicle. It is a symbolic step forward in Toyota’s journey to position its technology and vision for the future, as well as Japanese industry, on the map of space exploration .

The prospect of the Toyota logo appearing on the Sea of Tranquility – the legendary place where man first set foot on the moon – is no longer science fiction.

The Lunar Cruiser is a testament to the ability to overcome all limits – from the deserts of Earth to the dust of the moon. With this project, Toyota is not only creating a car, but also contributing to writing a new chapter in the history of human space exploration.

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