Technology and Scienceupdated 1h ago2 min read
Waymo Begins Driverless Taxi Testing In Toronto, Plans 2028 Passenger Service
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Waymo begins driverless taxi testing in Toronto; first phase starts in coming days. Service aimed to launch in 2028; mapping groundwork with manually driven Waymo vehicles.
6 outlets told this the same way.
Waymo heads to Toronto
Waymo said it will begin a first phase of driverless taxi testing in Toronto, with the company expecting to carry its first passengers in 2028. Waymo said Torontonians may start to see vehicles around the city "in the coming days" as the company begins testing with trained specialists behind the wheel. Waymo said its Toronto operations will follow a "rigorous, phased, safety-first approach" that starts by mapping local street networks.
Waymo said it is approved to participate in the province's automated vehicle pilot program, which launched 10 years ago, and Ontario changed the requirement for a driver in the seat in 2019 under certain conditions. Mayor Olivia Chow said her biggest concern is about the safety of Torontonians and ensuring that autonomous vehicles are held to the highest standards.
Mapping, partners, and permits
Waymo said it will start laying groundwork in Toronto in the coming days with Waymo vehicles manually driven on the streets for high-definition mapping of local street networks.
Waymo said it will conduct extensive trials across select neighbourhoods in Toronto, including St. Lawrence Market, Harbourfront, Roncesvalles Village, Parkdale, Liberty Village, Don Mills, Yorkdale, Leaside, East York, Summerhill, Yonge & Eglinton, Weston, Mimico and Etobicoke.
Waymo said it has received official provincial permit from Ontario's Ministry of Transportation to begin manual driving and testing, and it will continue to work with regulators to ensure it has the proper permits through every phase of its operations.
Waymo said it plans to begin with a limited number of its all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles and will scale gradually over time.
Waymo said it will partner with Element Fleet Management, a Toronto-based company that will provide end-to-end fleet management services.
Nvidia deals reshape autonomy
Nvidia said it is signing deals with automakers, and the company announced a deal with Volvo that uses Nvidia's Hyperion platform with custom high-powered chips and a full suite of sensors mounted around the vehicle. Volvo said its new point-to-point system will offer Level 2++ functionality by using Nvidia's Hyperion platform, and Volvo's product is described as launching in three years. Mercedes-Benz said it will develop its next generation of driver assistance and automated driving systems with Nvidia, and the companies said they will build on the same Nvidia self-driving stack.
Jörg Burzer, Mercedes-Benz's chief technology officer, said, "NVIDIA is our most important strategic partner in automated driving," as Mercedes framed its plans as covering the next decade. Jensen Huang, Nvidia's founder and chief executive, said, "Together, we’re combining Volvo’s extraordinary vehicle safety systems with NVIDIA Hyperion and Halos to build a new generation of cars that make driving safer and more effortless," as Volvo expanded its Nvidia partnership.