Waymo Heads to Canada: Toronto Mapping and Testing Begin Ahead of a Planned 2028 Robotaxi Launch
Waymo, Alphabet's self-driving unit, announced on October 16 that it has been approved to join Ontario's automated vehicle pilot program and will begin high-definition mapping and road testing in Toronto, ahead of a planned 2028 launch of its driverless ride-hailing service in Canada's largest city. It would be Waymo's first deployment in Canada.
According to Waymo's official blog and Reuters, the company will follow its usual phased playbook in Toronto: manually driven vehicles will first map the street network, followed by autonomous testing on public roads with a human safety operator aboard, before the operators are eventually removed and the public is invited to ride. Waymo said it has partnered with Toronto-based Element Fleet Management for fleet maintenance, validation driving, customer service and operations, and expects the expansion to support hundreds of jobs. Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana called the move into Canada an important milestone in the company's global journey; Toronto is also the northernmost and most wintry market Waymo has attempted so far.
Waymo currently operates commercial robotaxi services in 15 U.S. cities and is testing in London and Tokyo. Earlier this week, the company opened its service to all riders in San Diego, San Antonio and Tampa.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：Waymo无人驾驶汽车（捷豹I-PACE）在城市街头行驶（资料图）。图片来源：Oleg Yunakov，Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 4.0。Photo: A Waymo Jaguar I-PACE driverless car on a city street (file photo). Source: Oleg Yunakov, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
