Waymo Plans Toronto Robotaxi Launch in 2028
aiinsider ·
Waymo has announced plans to launch its fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Toronto in 2028, marking the company's first expansion into Canada. The initial phase will begin shortly with mapping and manually supervised testing on city streets by trained specialists. Waymo is partnering with Element Fleet Management to handle fleet operations and expects the expansion to create hundreds of jobs in maintenance, validation driving, and customer service. The company highlighted that its vehicles have already logged over 400 million fully autonomous kilometers and claims a 95% reduction in serious injury crashes compared to human drivers. To ensure inclusivity, Waymo is collaborating with local accessibility groups such as CNIB and BALANCE for Blind Adults to shape operating practices before commercial deployment. This move builds on existing Canadian ties, including investments from the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and manufacturing partnerships with Magna International. While specific details regarding fleet size, pricing, and initial neighborhoods remain undisclosed, the service will utilize an all-weather autonomous driving system suited for Toronto's conditions.
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