The Pulse
Waymo Starts Toronto Mapping Ahead of 2028 Robotaxi Launch
Waymo says it will begin manually driven mapping and testing on Toronto streets as it prepares a fully autonomous ride-hailing service. The company is targeting 2028 for its first riders and plans to work with Element Fleet Management on lo
AI.info Team · Written with AI ·
“Expanding into Canada marks an important milestone in Waymo’s global journey,”
Tekedra Mawakana, co-CEO, Waymo
Manual mapping comes first
Waymo announced its Toronto plans on October 16, saying its vehicles would begin appearing on city streets in the coming days with human drivers at the wheel. The first phase pairs high-definition mapping of local roads with tests led by trained autonomous specialists. Waymo says the work will help its driving system adapt to Toronto’s conditions; the company has not announced a date for driverless testing.
The company is targeting 2028 for its first riders in Toronto, which would be its first Canadian city for fully autonomous ride-hailing. Waymo’s Toronto information page says it has received a provincial permit to begin manual driving and testing under Ontario’s Automated Vehicle Pilot Program. The company says it is not yet offering commercial rides.
Element will manage the fleet
Waymo has chosen Toronto-headquartered Element Fleet Management to provide fleet services. The companies plan to invest in hundreds of roles over time, including fleet maintenance, validation driving, customer service and other operations work. Waymo did not give a hiring timetable or a specific job count.
The partnership adds to Waymo’s existing Canadian ties: the company names the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board as a long-term investor and Magna International as a manufacturing partner. Element CEO Laura Dottori-Attanasio said the company was “proud to be expanding our partnership with Waymo to help bring autonomous ride-hailing to Toronto.”
Testing could span multiple neighbourhoods
Waymo’s Toronto page lists possible testing areas including St. Lawrence Market, Harbourfront, Roncesvalles Village, Parkdale, Liberty Village, Don Mills, Yorkdale, Leaside, East York, Summerhill, Yonge and Eglinton, Weston, Mimico and Etobicoke. The company says the list is not exhaustive and describes the work as mapping and safety validation, not passenger service.
Waymo says its Toronto testing will take place under Ontario’s pilot program. Its information page says testing may run around the clock as the company checks how its vehicles handle local road conditions. The company has not specified a launch fleet size in its announcement.
Waymo’s safety comparison is from other cities
To support its case for entering Toronto, Waymo cites data from more than 400 million kilometres of fully autonomous driving. It says its vehicles were involved in 95% fewer crashes resulting in serious injury or worse than human drivers in the cities where it operates. That is Waymo’s comparison from its existing operating markets, not a Toronto result.
The company also named accessibility organizations it says it is working with, including BALANCE for Blind Adults, CNIB, Community Living Toronto, Connected Canadians and Epilepsy Ontario. The immediate test in Toronto is more basic: Waymo’s vehicles will first need to map the roads and gather local driving experience with trained people behind the wheel. Riders will have to wait for the company’s stated 2028 target.