Waymo is officially heading to Canada, laying the groundwork for its fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Toronto. The company is investing in local facilities and jobs, with the goal of welcoming its first riders in 2028.
In the coming days, Waymo vehicles will begin appearing on Toronto's streets as the company starts driving manually. The rollout takes a phased, safety-first approach, beginning with high-definition mapping of local street networks and testing with trained autonomous specialists behind the wheel. This validation period will ensure the Waymo Driver adapts to Toronto's distinct driving conditions.
"Expanding into Canada marks an important milestone in Waymo's global journey," said Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana. "Toronto is one of the world's great cities." To serve the city, Waymo is partnering with Element Fleet Management, a Toronto-headquartered company that will provide end-to-end fleet management services. Together, the companies plan to invest in hundreds of roles over time, spanning fleet maintenance, validation driving, customer service, and other operations. Waymo already has ties to Canada, including a long-term investor relationship with the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and a manufacturing partnership with Magna International.
Waymo says its data from over 400 million fully autonomous kilometres shows the Waymo Driver was involved in 95% fewer crashes involving serious injury or worse compared to humans in the cities where it operates. The company is also collaborating with accessibility and mobility advocacy organizations, including BALANCE for Blind Adults, CNIB, Community Living Toronto, Connected Canadians, and Epilepsy Ontario. Residents can sign up for updates at waymo.com/waymo-in-canada to be among the first to ride.
Source: Hacker News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing