Waymo’s fully autonomous ride-hailing service will launch testing in Toronto this year, with a full commercial rollout scheduled for 2028. The announcement came in a press release, resolving speculation that followed earlier discussions with city officials in 2025. Before autonomous operations begin, test vehicles will conduct detailed street mapping, a necessary precursor to driverless deployment.
Safety will guide Waymo’s Toronto initiative, starting with high-definition mapping and supervised testing by trained operators. The system must handle Toronto’s distinct conditions, including heavy snowfall, streetcars sharing lanes with cars, and cyclists maneuvering through traffic. “In the coming days, you’ll start to see Waymo vehicles on the streets of Toronto as we begin driving,” states a press release from Waymo.
Toronto was chosen as part of Waymo’s global expansion, with co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana calling it “an important milestone.” The city’s reputation for innovation, diversity, and forward-thinking policies made it a natural fit. A partnership with Element Fleet Management will support the autonomous service, creating local jobs despite the absence of human drivers.
Element Fleet Management, based in Toronto, will oversee fleet operations and prioritize hiring from the community. “As a Canadian company, we are proud to be expanding our partnership with Waymo to help bring autonomous ride-hailing to Toronto,” said Laura Dottori-Attanasio, Chief Executive Officer of Element Fleet Management. “Together with Waymo, Element will help create employment opportunities providing the fleet expertise, operational capabilities, and intelligent mobility solutions needed to support autonomous fleets reliably and at scale.”
Waymo has created a website where the company will share further updates about its Canadian rollout.
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