Science & Tech · Big Tech & Internet · 37 mins ago
Waymo to begin testing self-driving taxis in Toronto, targeting 2028 service
Waymo will begin testing self-driving taxis in Toronto this week.
The California-based company received Ontario government approval to join the province’s autonomous-vehicle pilot program.
Its vehicles will map Toronto streets with trained specialists behind the wheel.
Waymo plans to work with Toronto-based Element Fleet Management to organize its operations and hire hundreds of people for local roles.
Waymo already operates about 4,000 fully autonomous vehicles in cities around the world.
The company aims to carry its first Toronto passengers in 2028.
If service begins then, Waymo would compete with Uber and Lyft, which already have a large share of Toronto’s ride-hailing market and are planning their own autonomous vehicle fleets.
Waymo has received Ontario approval to take part in the province’s automated-vehicle pilot program and plans to test self-driving vehicles in Toronto.
The company will first map local streets and test vehicles on public roads with human safety operators.
Waymo aims to carry its first Toronto passengers in 2028.
It has partnered with Toronto-based Element Fleet Management to support its operations.
Waymo says its Toronto expansion is an important milestone in its global growth.
- Who
- Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving car unit. It is partnering with Element Fleet Management.
- What
- Waymo will map streets and test self-driving vehicles in Toronto. It aims to carry passengers in 2028.
- When
- Testing is set to begin in October 2026. The company is targeting passenger service in 2028.
- Where
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Why
- Waymo is expanding into Canada and taking part in Ontario’s automated-vehicle pilot program.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Waymo’s participation in Ontario’s automated-vehicle pilot program was reported after the company received provincial approval.
Waymo vehicles are expected to begin mapping Toronto streets with trained specialists behind the wheel.
Waymo plans to test its autonomous vehicles on public roads with a human safety operator on board.
Waymo aims to carry its first passengers in Toronto.
- Ontario approval
- Participation in the provincial automated-vehicle pilot program
- Initial work
- High-definition mapping of Toronto streets
- Road testing
- Human safety operator on board
- Local partner
- Element Fleet Management
- Target passenger service
- 2028
6 sources
Waymo’s robotaxis are headed to Canada
Waymo to test robotaxis in Toronto, aims for 2028 launch date
Self-driving taxi company Waymo to launch in Toronto, plans to begin service in 2028
Waymo to launch robotaxis in Toronto. This is how the pilot program works
Waymo to launch first phase of driverless taxi testing in Toronto 'in the coming days'
What people are saying
We’re proud to bring the Waymo Driver to Toronto and to partner with a community that shares our commitment to safer streets and more accessible mobility,
Expanding into Canada marks an important milestone in Waymo’s global journey.
This is a big victory for some of the untold stories in mobility technology in Canada — the kinds of companies that don’t get the headlines but, in terms of investment value … are just as material as the ones that bend metal and melt plastics,