Waymo launches Toronto robotaxi pilot with plans for driverless service by 2028

Waymo announced on Oct. 16, 2026, that it will launch a phased robotaxi pilot program in Toronto under Ontario's provincial autonomous vehicle framework, targeting fully autonomous passenger rides by 2028.

The Alphabet Inc. subsidiary will start testing with trained human drivers behind the wheel. "We are taking a rigorous, phased, safety-first approach, starting with high-definition mapping of local street networks and testing with trained autonomous specialists behind the wheel," Waymo said in a press release. The company added that the validation period will help its driving system adapt to Toronto's local weather, road layouts, driving conditions, and traffic patterns.

Waymo is partnering with Toronto-headquartered Element Fleet Management to manage vehicle maintenance and fleet operations. The two companies said they will invest in hundreds of local roles, including validation drivers, maintenance technicians, and customer service staff.

The Toronto deployment marks Waymo's first official project in Canadian road conditions. The company first commercially deployed its ride-hailing service in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2018. It currently operates autonomous ride-hailing services in 15 US cities and is testing in several more.

The Canadian expansion follows earlier municipal engagement in Ontario. According to a report by the Toronto Star, Waymo lobbied Toronto city hall in December 2025 regarding local bylaws and regulations related to autonomous driving.

Waymo safety performance reports show that its driving system has been involved in 95 percent fewer crashes causing serious injury or worse compared with human drivers, along with better collision avoidance capabilities. However, previous deployments in other cities have experienced technical glitches, including vehicle recalls after robotaxis mistakenly drove into active construction zones.

Reactions to Waymo's entry were divided among local groups on Friday. The Toronto chapter of Build Canada, which had published a policy memo encouraging Toronto to become an early adopter of self-driving technology, welcomed the announcement. Tech industry policy group Chamber of Progress pointed to potential economic and employment gains from the technology.

Conversely, Technologists for Democracy, a grassroots group of tech workers and advocates, urged government officials to pause the deployment and consult residents. The group created an open letter in the spring raising concerns about data sovereignty, user privacy, potential labor disruptions, and increased traffic congestion.