Waymo Gets Green Light to Begin Testing Self-Driving Cars in Toronto
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Toronto residents could soon spot Waymo vehicles navigating city streets, but anyone hoping to book a driverless taxi will have to wait.
Alphabet-owned Waymo announced Friday that it has secured a provincial permit to begin testing in Ontario, marking its entry into the Canadian market. The company hopes to welcome its first paying passengers in Toronto in 2028, although that remains a target rather than a confirmed launch date.
The initial rollout will look more like conventional driving than a robotaxi service. Human drivers will first map local streets before trained specialists begin evaluating the autonomous system. Testing will cover neighbourhoods including Harbourfront, Liberty Village, Parkdale, Yonge and Eglinton, and Etobicoke, giving the technology exposure to Toronto's traffic patterns and changing weather conditions.
Waymo has chosen Toronto-based Element Fleet Management to support its Canadian operations. The partnership is expected to support hundreds of jobs over time, spanning vehicle maintenance, safety testing, customer service and fleet operations. Neither company has announced a hiring timetable.
The expansion builds on Waymo's commercial robotaxi operations in the United States, but operating in Toronto will require local safety validation and further regulatory approvals. The current permit covers testing, not commercial rides. Prices and service boundaries have yet to be announced, and the public cannot book a Waymo taxi in Toronto.
