Toronto 
Toronto streets will soon have a new kind of vehicle making its rounds, although passengers won’t be able to book a driverless ride just yet.
Waymo has announced plans to bring its fully autonomous ride-hailing service to Toronto in 2028, marking the company’s first planned Canadian operation.
The company announced the expansion on October 16, alongside a partnership with Toronto-headquartered Element Fleet Management.
The first step will involve mapping and testing Toronto’s roads before introducing passenger service.
Waymo Vehicles Will Begin Appearing on Toronto Streets
According to Waymo, its vehicles will begin operating on Toronto roads in the coming days.
However, they won’t initially be driving themselves.
Trained specialists will remain behind the wheel as the company begins collecting high-definition mapping information and studying local driving conditions.
The phased testing process is intended to prepare Waymo’s autonomous driving technology for Toronto’s road network before fully driverless operations begin.
Waymo has not announced a specific public launch date beyond its 2028 target.
Canadian Company to Help Operate the Fleet
Element Fleet Management will oversee fleet operations through its Element Mobility division.
Its responsibilities will include vehicle maintenance, charging, fleet management and other operational services required to support autonomous ride-hailing.
Waymo and Element expect their expansion to support hundreds of jobs over time, including positions in fleet maintenance, validation driving, customer service and operations.
The partnership builds on an existing arrangement between the companies supporting Waymo’s autonomous vehicle operations in San Diego.
What Will Waymo’s Toronto Service Look Like?
Waymo intends to eventually offer rides in vehicles that operate without a human driver.
The company has not yet announced Toronto fares, service boundaries, booking arrangements or an exact date when passengers can begin requesting rides.
“Expanding into Canada marks an important milestone in Waymo’s global journey,” said Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana.
Waymo also has existing Canadian business connections through the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and automotive manufacturer Magna International.
For now, Toronto residents may begin seeing Waymo vehicles collecting road data, but the vehicles are not yet offering public driverless rides.
Those interested in trying Waymo’s self-driving ride-hailing service can sign up for updates.
Those who register will receive updates about Waymo’s Canadian launch and have an opportunity to be among the first to ride when the service becomes available.
