Waymo in Toronto: Mapping to Begin in the Coming Days, Passenger Rides Planned for 2028
Waymo is preparing to enter the Canadian market. In Toronto, it will first create HD maps and test vehicles with trained specialists; commercial operations have not yet launched.
Waymo in Toronto is preparing the company’s entry into Canada. On October 16, the company announced preparations for an autonomous transportation service in Toronto. In the coming days, it plans to begin manual driving to create HD maps, followed by testing with trained specialists in the vehicles. Waymo wants to welcome its first commercial passengers in 2028.
This is therefore not an immediate launch of a robotaxi service. Waymo says it is not currently offering commercial rides in Toronto and will need additional permits before proceeding to further phases.
Waymo in Toronto will begin by mapping the city
The first stage will consist of manual driving intended to create detailed maps of the city. The company then plans to begin testing autonomous vehicles, with trained specialists inside the vehicles.
Waymo says it received permission from Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation to participate in the Automated Vehicle Pilot Program. According to the company, the permission covers manual driving and testing. The company has also selected Element Fleet Management to manage its fleet in Toronto.
The announcement does not state the size of the future fleet, the specific area in which the service would operate, or ride prices. The exact date when the vehicles could transition to driverless operation has also not been confirmed.
The 2028 target is not a binding deadline
Waymo says it intends to begin transporting its first passengers in 2028. However, this is the company’s target, not a confirmed commercial launch date. The company will need additional regulatory steps and permits to provide paid passenger transportation.
The timeline of the current provincial program is also important. Ontario’s website states that the Automated Vehicle Pilot Program has been extended until October 13, 2027. If commercial service is to begin in 2028, the regulatory framework for such operations will need to be resolved or extended by then.
Waymo’s first announced step in Canada
Toronto could become Waymo’s first Canadian market. Initially, however, the project will involve only mapping and supervised testing, not a service available to the public. The project expands the company’s international ambitions and could test the technology in Toronto’s dense urban traffic and winter conditions.
In the next phase, confirmation of the permit conditions from Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation, the scope of the testing area, and the transition from manual mapping to autonomous driving will be important. The province’s rules after the current pilot program ends and any permits for paid transportation should also be monitored.
Sources
- Waymo — Hello Toronto! Waymo is En Route – Confirms the announcement of entry into Toronto, the phased mapping and testing, the partnership with Element Fleet Management, and the goal of welcoming the first passengers in 2028.
- Waymo — Waymo in Toronto – Waymo states that it received permission from Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation for manual driving and testing under the AVPP, says it is not currently offering commercial rides, and that it will obtain additional permits.
- Ontario — Automated Vehicle Pilot Program – Describes the provincial pilot program for testing automated vehicles and states that it has been extended until October 13, 2027.
- TechCrunch — Waymo’s robotaxis are headed to Canada – Independently describes that, according to available information, Waymo is to enter Ontario’s pilot program and that this is not an immediate launch of a robotaxi service.
Verified and updated: October 17, 2026 06:20
