GoKawiilWaymo gains approval to begin testing self-driving vehicles in Toronto
Waymo has been cleared to join Ontario's automated vehicle pilot program, marking its first expansion into Canada. The company will start by manually driving vehicles to map Toronto's streets, then test autonomous vehicles with safety drivers before eventually removing them and opening rides to the public. Waymo has partnered with Element Fleet Management to handle fleet operations in the city.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Toronto would be Waymo's coldest and snowiest deployment yet, which could serve as a real test of whether its sensors and software hold up in harsh winter conditions. The move also fits a broader pattern of rapid international expansion, suggesting Waymo is racing to establish footholds in multiple countries before rivals catch up. Reliance on a third-party fleet manager points to a scalable approach the company may replicate in future cities.
- Waymo has entered Ontario's automated vehicle pilot program as its first step into Canada.
- The company will follow its usual phased rollout: mapping, supervised testing, then public robotaxi rides.
- Element Fleet Management will handle vehicle operations in Toronto, supporting hundreds of local jobs.
Source: techcrunch.com — Kirsten Korosec, 2026-10-16
Published there as: “Waymo’s robotaxis are headed to Canada”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.