Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous driving division, has received approval to conduct self-driving vehicle trials in Ontario, marking its official expansion into Canada. The company plans to begin by manually driving its vehicles around Toronto to build detailed maps of the area's street network. Following this mapping phase, Waymo will initiate road tests with safety operators behind the wheel and gradually transition to fully autonomous rides, eventually offering public robotaxi services.

This move into Canada represents a significant milestone for Waymo as it continues its rapid market growth. Just two years ago, the company operated in only three U.S. cities without freeway robotaxi service. Since then, it has expanded to 15 American cities, as well as testing services in London and Tokyo. Toronto poses special challenges due to its northern latitude and harsh winter weather, providing a demanding environment for Waymo’s autonomous technology.

To support local operations in Toronto, Waymo has partnered with Element Fleet Management, a Toronto-based company that will handle fleet management and help create hundreds of jobs in areas such as vehicle maintenance, validation driving, and customer support. This approach aligns with Waymo’s broader strategy of collaborating with regional partners to efficiently scale its autonomous service footprint.

The company is following its established phased rollout method, typical for entering new cities, which starts with manual data collection and progresses through operator-assisted testing before commercial deployment. This cautious expansion into Canada reflects Waymo’s intent to adapt its technology to new regulatory environments and diverse urban conditions, reinforcing its position as a leading global player in robotaxi services.