Waymo Heads To Canada, Targets Toronto Robotaxi Rides In 2028 & Hundreds Of Jobs

Waymo is finally heading to Canada, although Toronto residents won't be hailing its driverless cars immediately.

The company plans to invest in local facilities and jobs while preparing the city for fully autonomous ride-hailing, with its first passengers targeted for 2028.
 

TL;DR

 

• Waymo is entering Canada through Toronto, aiming to welcome its first autonomous riders in 2028.
• Human-driven mapping and supervised testing will come before commercial robotaxi service.
• A partnership with Element Fleet Management is expected to support hundreds of local roles over time.
• The expansion follows $5 billion in debt financing and coincides with broader U.S. service upgrades.

 

Waymo Begins Toronto Road Testing And Plans Hundreds Of Local Jobs

Waymo's vehicles will soon appear on Toronto streets, initially driven manually to build high-definition maps.

Trained autonomous specialists will subsequently test the Waymo Driver behind the wheel, checking its performance against local traffic and driving conditions.

That phased approach is important: seeing a Waymo vehicle in Toronto will not mean passengers can already book a driverless ride, as observed with Waymo's London public-road testing.

For local operations, Waymo is partnering with Toronto-headquartered Element Fleet Management, which will provide end-to-end fleet services. The companies expect to invest in hundreds of positions over time across vehicle maintenance, validation driving, customer support, and operational functions.

“Expanding into Canada marks an important milestone in Waymo’s global journey,” said Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana.

Based on more than 400 million autonomous kilometers, Waymo claims 95% fewer crashes involving serious injury or worse than human drivers in existing service cities. Those figures do not describe Toronto operations.
 

 

Waymo Secures $5 Billion In Debt Financing To Expand Robotaxi Operations

Toronto's announcement follows Waymo's first debt financing, a $5 billion term loan announced on October 8.

PIMCO, Blackstone, and Sixth Street led the syndicated lending group, while Goldman Sachs served as sole lead bookrunner. The company had already closed a $16 billion equity investment earlier in 2026.

Waymo says the new financing will increase its financial flexibility and support autonomous ride-hailing expansion across the United States and internationally. It did not specify how much of the borrowing would be allocated to its Canadian operations.
 

Waymo Opens Driverless Rides Across Three More U.S. Cities

Meanwhile, Waymo opened app-based autonomous rides to anyone in San Antonio, San Diego, and Tampa on October 14. That includes journeys involving San Antonio International Airport, an additional option for travelers.

Waymo says the three markets have welcomed hundreds of thousands of riders since opening earlier this year. Community representatives highlighted potential benefits for seniors and people with visual impairments, including those who cannot drive independently.

Scott Young of Tampa's Lighthouse for the Blind & Low Vision summarized the accessibility argument: “With Waymo, they get their independence back.”

Waymo's growing U.S. footprint also includes its robotaxi partnership with Lyft in Nashville.
 

 

Waymo Readies Silver Ojai Robotaxis For More U.S. Rides

Alongside these service launches, Waymo introduced a silver version of its Ojai vehicle with refreshed interior colors, leatherette seats, matching seatbelts, carpeted flooring, and high-contrast trim.

Practical updates include wireless phone charging, new seats, and rear armrests. Production is ramping up in Mesa, Arizona, where road testing has begun.

The silver Ojai is expected to begin carrying passengers in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas in the coming weeks, followed by a wider rollout.