Waymo Heads to Toronto, Targeting First Riders in 2028

A phased, safety-first start

Waymo says it is investing in local facilities and jobs as it prepares the Toronto launch. The company describes its approach as rigorous, phased and safety-first. The first step is high-definition mapping of the city's street networks, followed by testing with trained autonomous specialists behind the wheel.

According to Waymo, this validation period is meant to ensure the Waymo Driver adapts to what it calls Toronto's distinct driving conditions. The vehicles seen on the road in the near term will be driven manually as part of the mapping work.

Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana said that "Expanding into Canada marks an important milestone in Waymo's global journey." She added that Waymo is proud to bring the Waymo Driver to Canada's largest city and to work with business, arts and cultural communities that share its commitment to safer streets and more accessible mobility.

Element Fleet Management and Canadian ties

To run the service, Waymo is partnering with Element Fleet Management, a company headquartered in Toronto that Waymo describes as a global leader in intelligent fleet and mobility solutions. Element will provide end-to-end fleet management services.

Together with Element and other partners, Waymo says it will invest over time in hundreds of roles covering fleet maintenance, validation driving, customer service and other operations functions.

The company notes that the partnership builds on existing Canadian connections. These include a long-term investor relationship with the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and a manufacturing partnership with Magna International.

Laura Dottori-Attanasio, Chief Executive Officer of Element Fleet Management, said her company is proud to expand its partnership with Waymo and that Element will provide "the fleet expertise, operational capabilities, and intelligent mobility solutions needed to support autonomous fleets reliably and at scale."

Safety claims and accessibility groups

Waymo positions its service as an added option alongside Toronto's existing transport, from bike lanes to public transit. It describes Toronto as one of North America's fastest-growing metropolitan regions and says its all-weather Driver can complement the city's transportation ecosystem.

The company cites data from over 400 million fully autonomous kilometres driven. According to Waymo, the Waymo Driver was involved in 95% fewer (20x fewer) crashes involving serious injury or worse compared with human drivers in the cities where it operates. This is Waymo's own figure.

Waymo also says it is working with accessibility and mobility advocacy organizations, including BALANCE for Blind Adults, CNIB, Community Living Toronto, Connected Canadians and Epilepsy Ontario. Michelle McQuigge, CEO of BALANCE for Blind Adults, said Waymo's decision to engage early "reflects the kind of approach that leads to real results."

What it means for Toronto residents

Riders will not be able to use the service for some time, since the stated target for the first passengers is 2028. In the meantime, residents will see Waymo vehicles mapping and testing on city streets. Waymo has opened a sign-up page for people who want updates and a chance to be among the first to ride, at waymo.com/waymo-in-canada.

The source does not give details on pricing, service area or fleet size, and Waymo has not said how many vehicles will operate in Toronto.