Waymo

Waymo is bringing its autonomous ride-hailing technology to Toronto, marking its first official expansion into Canada. The Alphabet subsidiary will begin with mapping and testing under a provincial pilot program, using trained human drivers before targeting autonomous passenger service in 2028.

Toronto-based Element Fleet Management will help manage the fleet, with the partners anticipating hundreds of roles in maintenance, validation driving, and customer service. The rollout will test how Waymo’s technology handles Toronto’s distinctive driving conditions. It also brings questions about privacy, congestion, and employment into sharper focus as Canada’s largest city prepares for a potential shift in urban transportation.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on BetaKit.

Alphabet-led Waymo’s recent $5.6 billion funding round will accelerate its U.S. robotaxi expansion. The round saw participation from key investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Fidelity, Perry Creek, Silver Lake, Tiger Global, and T. Rowe Price, supplementing Alphabet’s $5 billion planned investment in Waymo. Notably, Canadian investors CPP Investments and Magna declined to disclose any renewed involvement.

Despite a December 2023 software recall due to a Phoenix accident, Waymo reported a tenfold increase in paid rides over the past year. With this funding, Waymo intensifies its competition against Tesla’s upcoming robotaxi launch.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on The Logic.