Waymo picks Toronto as first Canadian city, targets riders in 2028

Waymo, the self-driving car company, is bringing its robotaxi service to Toronto, its fourth market outside the US after London, Tokyo, and Singapore. Cars will start driving the city's streets soon, but with human drivers at the wheel at first, mapping routes and testing the software. Waymo wants to start carrying paying riders by 2028. Toronto will be an important test for the company, since it's one of the first cities with harsh winters, and Waymo will need to show its cars handle snow, slush, and road salt reliably.

There's a wrinkle: Ontario's only legal framework for self-driving vehicles, a testing rule in place since 2016, is set to expire in October 2027, months before Waymo's planned launch. The province hasn't said what rules, if any, will replace it, and right now there's no clear path from testing permits to an actual paid ride-hailing service. Toronto's mayor has also said she won't support the service if it costs jobs, which is likely why Waymo is highlighting a partnership with a Toronto-based fleet management company and promising "hundreds" of new jobs in maintenance and operations.

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