Waymo, the US company owned by Alphabet Inc., said it plans to launch a driverless taxi service in Toronto in 2028. The move would mark Waymo’s first project in Canada and another step in its expansion outside the United States.
The company is starting preparatory work in Canada’s largest city. At this stage, Waymo will map the city and work with local authorities ahead of the future deployment of its Waymo Driver autonomous driving system.
Waymo vehicles are expected to appear on Toronto streets in the coming days, though they will initially operate with drivers behind the wheel. The effort is aimed at gathering data and preparing for the eventual service launch.
“Entering the Canadian market is an important milestone in Waymo’s global development,” said co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana.
To support operations in Toronto, Waymo will work with Element Fleet Management. The Toronto-headquartered company is a global player in fleet management and smart mobility solutions and will provide full servicing for Waymo’s vehicle fleet.
