Waymo Starts Mapping Toronto for 2028 Launch — Its First Canadian Market

Waymo says it will begin manually mapping and testing Toronto streets in the coming days, with the goal of launching fully autonomous ride-hailing there in 2028 — its first planned service in Canada. The announcement, updated October 20, sets Toronto as the first non-U.S. market on Waymo’s expansion list, alongside a U.S. footprint that now spans 15 cities.

The initial vehicles will carry trained specialists behind the wheel as the company builds high-definition maps and validates how its driving system handles local roads, weather and conditions. The work proceeds in phases before any driverless rides are offered — so the announcement does not mean passengers can book a robotaxi yet. For local operations, Waymo has partnered with Toronto-headquartered Element Fleet Management, which will provide fleet services. The companies expect to support hundreds of jobs over time in vehicle maintenance, validation driving, customer service and operations.

Regulatory groundwork is underway: Ontario has approved Waymo’s participation in its automated-vehicle pilot program. But local politics is already engaged — Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has raised safety concerns and called for the vehicles to meet high standards. Waymo’s 2028 date is a target, not a commitment; the company has not announced a specific opening date for public rides.

Why it matters: international expansion is the next proving ground for robotaxis. New cities mean new regulators, new weather, new driving cultures — and Toronto, with real winters, will test the system in conditions Sun Belt cities never do.