Google's self-driving car company, Waymo, has been approved to join Ontario's automated vehicle pilot programme. It is not launching a paid robotaxi service yet. Waymo says its cars will first be driven by people in Toronto to create detailed maps of local streets.
Later the cars will drive themselves with a safety operator on board. Eventually the public will be invited to take rides.
π The Backstory
Waymo follows the same slow path in every new city, moving from mapping to testing to a paid service. Two years ago it operated in only three cities and avoided freeways. It launched in Austin in March 2025, then Atlanta.
Today it runs robotaxis in 15 US cities and is testing in London and Tokyo. Toronto will be its coldest and snowiest city so far, which will test the technology hard.
π― Why It Matters
Robotaxis could one day replace some car trips and driving jobs. Snow and ice are a big test that many self-driving cars have failed before.
Google's self-driving car company, Waymo, has been approved to join Ontario's automated vehicle pilot programme. It is not launching a paid robotaxi service yet. Waymo says its cars will first be driven by people in Toronto to create detailed maps of local streets.
Later the cars will drive themselves with a safety operator on board. Eventually the public will be invited to take rides.
Waymo follows the same slow path in every new city, moving from mapping to testing to a paid service. Two years ago it operated in only three cities and avoided freeways. It launched in Austin in March 2025, then Atlanta.
Today it runs robotaxis in 15 US cities and is testing in London and Tokyo. Toronto will be its coldest and snowiest city so far, which will test the technology hard.
Robotaxis could one day replace some car trips and driving jobs. Snow and ice are a big test that many self-driving cars have failed before.