Waymo Puts Toronto on the Map for Its Robotaxis
Training of the Waymo robotaxis will begin in the coming days, but you won’t be able to book a ride till 2028.
Waymo is expanding its autonomous ride services to Toronto, Canada for the first time, according to a company blog post. The robotaxi service will be available for booking in the Toronto area starting in 2028, initially with a small fleet of Jaguar I-Pace electric SUVs. These vehicles will be manned by human drivers as Waymo maps local roads and adapts its technology to Canadian traffic conditions and winter weather.
Toronto neighborhoods like Liberty Village, St. Lawrence Market, and Yorkdale will be tested regions for the service. Waymo has developed a sixth-generation autonomous driving system capable of handling diverse environments, including cold winters. The company is also collaborating with Toronto-based Element Fleet Management for vehicle upkeep, validation driving, and customer support.
Waymo launched its fully autonomous ride service using electric vehicles in 2018, with operations currently in the US in cities such as Miami, Phoenix, San Francisco Bay Area, Denver, San Diego, Las Vegas, and Tampa. Interested individuals in Toronto can sign up to ride with Waymo and monitor the Canadian launch progress on the company's website.
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