Abstract
Since 1996, Toyota Motor Corporation and several navigation system manufacturers have directed efforts to the development of the KIWI format, which is an excellent format in terms of performance, functions, and extension capability, used to store car navigation map data on CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. Version 1.22, established in May 2000, can be used worldwide, being capable of searching street addresses commonly used in Europe and the United States. Toyota marketed a navigation system in 2001, making use of KIWI 1.22 in Japan, North America, Europe, and Australia. In China we developed map discs in the KIWI format and conducted monitoring. Toyota and other companies taking part in the development of the KIWI format have made the map format and specification open. By adhering to the specification, it becomes possible to prepare map data that are compatible among several models of systems.