Waymo Expands Self-Driving Robotaxi Operations into Canada with Ontario Pilot Program
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Waymo, Alphabet's self-driving car unit, is expanding its operations into Canada after receiving approval for Ontario's automated vehicle pilot program. The company will initially focus on manually driving its vehicles in Toronto to create high-definition maps of the local street networks before testing its autonomous vehicles on public roads with human safety operators.
This expansion is significant as it marks Waymo's entry into a new market, following a strategic approach that has seen the company grow from operating in three commercial markets to 15 U.S. cities, with ongoing tests in London and Tokyo. Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana emphasized that this move is a crucial milestone in Waymo's global journey, especially as Toronto presents unique winter conditions that will challenge its autonomous vehicle technology.
Looking ahead, Waymo plans to gradually transition from manual mapping to fully autonomous operations, eventually inviting the public to ride in its robotaxis. The partnership with Element Fleet Management in Toronto is expected to create hundreds of jobs, highlighting the company's commitment to local economies as it accelerates its expansion strategy. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
Original report
Waymo’s robotaxis are headed to Canada
TechCrunch · Kirsten KorosecThis briefing is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting and is provided for industry information and news discovery. The original report and source publication are credited and linked where applicable. RobotToday does not claim ownership of third-party source material.
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