Waymo says it will begin manually mapping and testing Toronto streets in the coming days, with the goal of launching fully autonomous ride-hailing there in 2028—its first planned Canadian service.
The initial vehicles will have trained specialists behind the wheel as the company builds high-definition maps and checks how its driving system handles local roads and conditions. Waymo says the work will proceed in phases before it offers driverless rides, so the announcement does not mean passengers can book a robotaxi now. For local operations, Waymo has partnered with Toronto-headquartered Element Fleet Management, which will provide fleet services.
The companies say they expect to support hundreds of jobs over time in areas such as vehicle maintenance, validation driving, customer service and other operations. CBC reports that Ontario has approved Waymo’s participation in its automated-vehicle pilot program, while Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has raised safety concerns and called for the vehicles to meet high standards. Waymo’s 2028 date is a target; the company has not announced a specific opening date for public rides.