Waymo announces test drives in Toronto
The first vehicles will have a driver; passenger services are planned for 2028.
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Waymo intends to begin mapping streets and making preparatory journeys in Toronto in the coming days. The company announced on Friday that it is aiming to launch an autonomous taxi service in 2028.
During the first phase, trained staff will be behind the wheel. They will collect information about the road network and local driving conditions. The announcement therefore does not yet mark the opening of a taxi service through which residents can book a journey. Waymo presents the work as preparation for a later commercial launch, with the technology first needing to be adapted to conditions in Toronto. [Source: Waymo](https://waymo-prod.appspot.com/blog/2026/10/waymo-in-toronto/).
Waymo is working with Element Fleet Management, a company headquartered in Toronto, to carry out the work. Element is to manage the fleet. The companies expect to create jobs gradually in areas including maintenance, test drives and customer service. How many jobs actually materialise will depend on the further roll-out. The announced employment is therefore an expectation of the companies and not yet a reality.
A substantial share of regulatory responsibility rests with the province of Ontario. According to the municipal information page, the provincial Ministry of Transportation regulates the use of public roads by highly automated vehicles. Ontario has had a pilot programme since 2016. Toronto states on that page that the city has no by-laws specifically targeting automated vehicles. That existing explanation provides the background to the announced preparations.
Participants in the provincial programme must inform local authorities in advance about where and when they will be testing. The procedure also requires a written plan for dealing with roadworks, police and emergency services. Among other things, it must explain how vehicles respond to construction sites and emergency vehicles. Testing therefore concerns both vehicle technology and the day-to-day management of public roads. [Source: City of Toronto](https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/streets-parking-transportation/transportation-projects/automated-vehicles/testing-automated-vehicles-in-toronto/).
CityNews reports that Waymo has permission for manual driving and testing under the provincial programme. The broadcaster also asked Uber for a response. That company supports the development of autonomous transport, but advocates clear safety standards and preparation for the consequences for workers. Uber expects human drivers and autonomous vehicles to continue operating alongside one another for many years. That is the expectation of a market participant with an interest in the matter.
According to Uber, additional approvals are needed before commercial driverless transport can become available. The year 2028 therefore remains a target date. The announcement does not yet establish which journeys residents will be able to make then or under what conditions the service will operate. The preparatory phase and any opening to paying passengers are separate steps. [Source: CityNews](https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/10/16/waymo-cars-autonomous-toronto-2028-launch/).
For Dutch readers, that transition is particularly relevant: an announced robotaxi requires not only working software but also arrangements for oversight, emergency services and operations on the street. Toronto provides a concrete example of how a city and province prepare for such a launch. Whether the eventual service will deliver the promised benefits cannot yet be established on the basis of the initial announcement.
Also show the region and a close-up
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The announced first phase will take place with staff behind the wheel.
- A commercial launch in 2028 is a goal.
- Ontario has a provincial framework for testing automated vehicles.
Left
Arguments Let public benefits and the protection of workers take the lead. Assess accessibility and the consequences for drivers before a broad roll-out takes place.
Values Livelihood security, equal access and public control.
Consequences New services can make people more independent, but the benefits will not necessarily reach employees or residents with limited mobility.
Centre
Arguments Use phased authorisation, verifiable safety criteria and clear responsibilities for the company and government.
Values Care, practicality and demonstrable safety.
Consequences A gradual approach can allow room for innovation while the government gains experience and can adjust conditions.
Right
Arguments Give businesses room to offer new transport services within predictable rules on safety and liability.
Values Entrepreneurship, freedom of choice and competition.
Consequences New providers can improve services; unnecessarily complicated authorisation can delay investment.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The announcement of 16 October has been checked against a primary source and an independent journalistic source. Expectations about the launch and employment have consistently been described as future plans.
- confirmed Waymo announced preparatory journeys on 16 October and is aiming to carry passengers in 2028. — The date and timetable are set out in the company statement. source
- confirmed The first phase uses drivers for mapping and tests; Element handles fleet management. — Both elements are included in the primary announcement. source
- confirmed The announced jobs are expectations for the further roll-out. — Waymo describes future roles, not a completed recruitment programme. source
- confirmed Ontario regulates the tests; local notification and an interaction plan are part of the procedure. — The municipal explanation describes responsibilities and requirements. source
- confirmed CityNews reports testing permission; Uber calls for safety standards and says further approvals are necessary. — The broadcaster describes the permission and publishes Uber's response. source
Editor's note
The announcement has been confirmed by the company source and CityNews. The municipal page, updated on 6 January 2026, serves solely as background on the testing procedure. The actual start of journeys and commercial transport in 2028 are not yet established facts.Sources
- Hello Toronto! Waymo is En Route — Waymo
- Waymo sets sights on Toronto as self-driving ride service eyes 2028 launch — CityNews
- Testing Automated Vehicles in Toronto — City of Toronto
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „waymo toronto”
- de Volkskrant — „waymo toronto”
- NOS — „waymo toronto”