Toyota's autonomous driving unit to invest in Hokkaido-based space infrastructure firm

Jan 7 (Reuters) - Japan-based space infrastructure company Interstellar Technologies said on Tuesday that it has reached a strategic capital and business partnership with a Toyota Motor Corp 7203.T unit.

Woven by Toyota, Toyota's autonomous driving technology unit, will invest about 7 billion Japanese yen ($44.42 million) in Interstellar by the first close of its Series F funding as the lead investor.

Additional funding is expected in the second close.

As part of the partnership, Woven by Toyota will also appoint a director to Interstellar's board.

The Hokkaido-based company said it "aims to leverage automotive industry expertise, including Toyota's production methods, to transition rocket manufacturing into a high-quality, cost-effective, and scalable process."

Interstellar Technologies became the first Japanese firm to send a rocket into space without a satellite payload in 2019. However, its orbital launcher Zero remains under development.

($1 = 157.6000 yen)

(Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Tasim Zahid)

((Juby.Babu@thomsonreuters.com;))