Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous driving subsidiary, is expanding into Canada after receiving approval to participate in Ontario’s automated vehicle pilot program. The company plans to begin operations in Toronto, although it has not yet announced a commercial robotaxi launch date.
The initial phase will involve manually driven vehicles mapping local streets to create high-definition maps for autonomous driving. Waymo will then test its self-driving vehicles on public roads with human safety operators on board before potentially progressing to driverless testing and public robotaxi services.
The phased approach follows the company’s established expansion process in new markets, where mapping and supervised testing precede commercial operations.
Toronto Adds to Waymo’s International Expansion
Waymo’s entry into Canada comes as the company accelerates its expansion beyond its established US markets. Its deployment in Austin began in March 2025, followed by expansion into Atlanta. The company now operates robotaxi services in 15 US cities and is also testing autonomous vehicles in London and Tokyo.
Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana described the Canadian expansion as an important milestone in Waymo’s international development.
Toronto will also present a different operating environment from many of the company’s existing markets. Its winter conditions, including snow and other challenging weather, will test the performance of Waymo’s autonomous driving technology and its operational procedures.
Testing in such conditions is relevant to the development of self-driving systems that must interpret changing road surfaces, visibility and traffic behaviour throughout the year.
Partnership With Element Fleet Management
Waymo has partnered with Toronto-based Element Fleet Management to support its operations in the city. The arrangement reflects the company’s increasing use of third-party partners to manage fleet-related activities as it enters new markets.
According to Waymo, the expansion is expected to support hundreds of jobs in areas including vehicle maintenance, validation driving, customer service and operations.
The partnership will provide local operational support as Waymo progresses through mapping and autonomous testing. The company has not yet provided a detailed timeline for removing safety operators or opening the service to public passengers.
Commercial Launch Still to Come
Waymo’s approval to participate in Ontario’s pilot program marks an initial step towards operating autonomous vehicles in Canada, rather than confirmation of a commercial robotaxi launch.
The company will need to complete its mapping and testing phases before moving towards driverless passenger services. The timing will depend on testing progress, operational readiness and the applicable regulatory requirements.
Toronto’s road network and winter climate will provide a new environment in which Waymo can evaluate its autonomous driving technology as it continues expanding internationally.