Waymo Takes Robotaxis to Canada
Waymo plans to launch its first Canadian autonomous ride-hailing service in Toronto, with commercial rides targeted for 2028.
Waymo is taking its robotaxi programme beyond the United States, choosing Toronto as its first Canadian market and targeting commercial rides in 2028.
What happened
Waymo will begin by driving vehicles manually to map Toronto. It then plans to test autonomous vehicles with safety operators before progressing toward fully driverless service.
The company is working with Element Fleet Management on local fleet operations. This will be Waymo's first Canadian market and another step in expanding its autonomous ride-hailing network internationally.
Toronto presents a different operating environment from many of Waymo's existing US locations. The system will need to handle snow, ice, reduced visibility, changing road markings and the behaviour of other road users during severe winter conditions.
Why it matters
Autonomous-driving systems need to perform reliably across far more than clear, predictable roads. A launch in Toronto would provide a meaningful test of how well Waymo's technology generalises to colder weather and seasonal changes.
The staged rollout also illustrates how slowly a robotaxi service enters a new city. Mapping, supervised testing, regulatory engagement and fleet preparation all come before commercial driverless rides.
The bigger picture
The announcement shows Waymo evolving from a collection of US deployments toward a multi-country mobility platform. Expanding successfully will depend not only on driving technology but also on local regulation, fleet operations and public trust.
A 2028 target leaves significant execution risk, but Toronto could become an important proof point: if the service can operate through Canadian winters, Waymo can make a stronger case that its system is adaptable rather than limited to favourable climates.