Waymo Targets Toronto Robotaxi Service in 2028, With Electric Fleet Plans Taking Shape
Waymo is preparing to enter Canada, announcing plans to welcome its first Toronto passengers in 2028. The company will initially deploy manually driven vehicles to map streets and assess local conditions, marking the start of a testing process rather than the immediate introduction of a commercial driverless service.
The October 16 announcement includes a partnership with Toronto-based Element Fleet Management, which will provide end-to-end fleet management services. The partners expect to support hundreds of roles over time across maintenance, validation driving, customer service, and operations. Waymo also identified existing Canadian connections through investor Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and manufacturing partner Magna International.
For the clean mobility sector, the expansion presents two connected tests: whether autonomous vehicles can operate reliably through Toronto’s winters, and whether an electric ride-hailing fleet can deliver measurable environmental benefits within an established public transport network.
Mapping and Testing Come Before Passenger Service
Waymo says it has received a provincial permit from Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation to begin manual driving and testing under the Automated Vehicle Pilot Program. Its initial Toronto fleet will consist of a limited number of all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles, with expansion planned gradually.
The company intends to conduct mapping and safety validation across selected neighborhoods. Trained specialists will remain behind the wheel during the initial work, allowing the company to evaluate its technology against local streets and traffic conditions. Waymo says it will work with regulators to obtain the permissions required at each subsequent stage.
The distinction between testing permission and commercial deployment matters. Ontario’s pilot program, introduced in 2016 and subsequently updated, is currently scheduled to run until October 13, 2027. That places Waymo’s proposed 2028 passenger launch beyond the program’s present end date, making the future regulatory framework an important part of its deployment timetable.
Ojai Remains a Possible Future Vehicle
An October 19 Forbes analysis by Brad Templeton examines whether Waymo could eventually use its Chinese-made Ojai robotaxis in Canada, including potential implications for vehicle import costs. However, that possibility should be distinguished from the company’s confirmed Toronto plans: Waymo has identified Jaguar I-PACE vehicles for the initial phase and has not announced an Ojai deployment for the city.
The Ojai is already part of Waymo’s broader fleet development. In May, the company announced plans to welcome its first public riders into the vehicle, which introduces its sixth-generation autonomous driving system. Its design includes a low step, flat floor, and a more spacious passenger compartment.
For Toronto, the eventual vehicle choice will affect more than passenger comfort. Fleet operators will need to assess acquisition costs, maintenance requirements, charging demand, winter availability, and the practical requirements of intensive daily use.
Winter Conditions Will Shape Deployment
Toronto’s climate introduces challenges for both autonomous driving and electric fleet operations. Snow, ice, road spray, and accumulated grime can interfere with vehicle sensors, while changing road surfaces require careful assessment of traction and stopping distances.
Waymo says its winter development program has included driving in Upstate New York, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and the Sierra. Its approach combines real-world testing with hardware designed to maintain visibility in difficult conditions, including automated sensor cleaning and heating elements. These are company-reported capabilities that will still need validation in Toronto’s operating environment.
The sixth-generation system combines cameras, lidar, radar, and external audio receivers. Waymo says the system improves perception in adverse weather while reducing hardware costs, and can be adapted to different vehicle platforms. Its commercial relevance will depend on consistent service availability as well as technical performance.
Electric Vehicles Offer an Opportunity, With Conditions
An all-electric fleet eliminates exhaust emissions during driving. Its wider climate impact, however, also depends on electricity generation, vehicle and battery manufacturing, passenger occupancy, and the distance traveled between paid trips.
Ontario offers a potentially favorable electricity context. According to the Independent Electricity System Operator, most electricity produced in the province comes from nuclear and hydroelectric plants, which have low greenhouse gas emissions. Natural gas also contributes to supply, so charging electricity should not be treated as uniformly carbon-free.
The relevant environmental measure is therefore emissions per passenger journey, including the energy consumed while vehicles travel empty to pickups or return to charging facilities. Replacing a gasoline car trip presents a different emissions comparison from attracting a passenger who would otherwise have walked, cycled, or used public transport.
Integration With Public Transport Will Matter
Research from the International Transport Forum illustrates why automation alone does not establish an environmental benefit. Its modeling of shared autonomous urban mobility found that total travel increased in most scenarios, with outcomes depending on vehicle choices, deployment scale, and the availability of high-capacity public transport.
For Toronto, useful performance indicators would include empty vehicle mileage, passenger occupancy, electricity consumption, and evidence of which travel modes the service replaces. Connections to transit stations could support a different outcome from extensive competition with existing transit journeys.
Waymo’s next milestones are local mapping, testing, and securing subsequent permissions. The proposed 2028 launch creates time to assess winter reliability and fleet operations. Its contribution to transport decarbonization will ultimately depend on how efficiently the vehicles operate and how the service changes travel across the city.
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