TORONTO NEWS | OCTOBER 16, 2026

Toronto traffic is about to get a futuristic upgrade.

Waymo, the self-driving technology company owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet, has officially announced plans to bring its driverless taxi service to Toronto, making it the first Canadian city selected for the service.

The company is targeting 2028 for its first passenger rides, but Torontonians could start spotting Waymo vehicles on local streets within days. 

How Will It Work?

Imagine ordering a ride through an app, watching a car pull up, opening the door and realizing there’s nobody behind the wheel.

That’s the experience Waymo hopes to bring to Toronto.

Its vehicles use cameras, radar, sensors and artificial intelligence to navigate streets, recognize pedestrians, respond to traffic signals and transport passengers without a human driver.

But the company isn’t jumping straight into driverless operations.

Its first phase will involve mapping Toronto’s roads and testing vehicles with trained drivers behind the wheel. The testing will help the technology adjust to the city’s traffic, construction, cyclists and unpredictable weather.

Toronto’s Winters Could Be the Real Test

Operating a driverless vehicle in sunny California is one thing. Navigating Toronto during a February snowstorm is another.

Snow-covered roads, freezing rain, reduced visibility and icy intersections present challenges that autonomous vehicles must overcome.

Waymo says its technology is designed for different weather conditions, but Toronto will provide an important opportunity to demonstrate how well it performs during Canadian winters. 

Hundreds of Jobs Could Be Created

Waymo is partnering with Toronto-based Element Fleet Management to support its Canadian operations.

The companies expect to create hundreds of jobs over time in areas including vehicle maintenance, customer service, testing and fleet operations.

However, the arrival of driverless taxis also raises questions about the future of traditional taxi and rideshare drivers.

Regulatory approval for commercial driverless rides will also be an important step before the planned 2028 launch can become a reality. 

Would You Ride in a Car Without a Driver?

Waymo already operates autonomous taxi services in several American cities, including San Francisco and Phoenix.

The company reports that its vehicles have travelled more than 400 million kilometres autonomously, with significantly fewer serious crashes than human drivers in the markets where it operates. Those figures are based on Waymo’s own analysis. 

For Toronto, the arrival of driverless taxis could mark a major shift in how residents and visitors move around the city.

The technology is coming. The bigger question is whether Torontonians are ready to trust it.

Would you feel comfortable getting into a taxi with nobody behind the wheel?

Sources: Waymo official announcement · CityNews Toronto · The Canadian Press