Waymo, the American self-driving technology company, is seeking to extend its successful robotaxi service into the Canadian market. On Friday, representatives from the California-based firm confirmed their aspirations to launch an autonomous ride-hailing service in major cities across Canada, sharing their efforts to facilitate this expansion.
According to spokesperson Ethan Teicher, Waymo has global ambitions and is engaging with officials across Canada to discuss its technology. They aim to advocate for legal frameworks that would enable the introduction of their fully autonomous ride-hailing service in the country in the future.
Waymo is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company. Currently, the company operates its robotaxi service in a limited number of urban areas throughout the United States. Recently, Waymo announced plans to expand into 12 major U.S. cities, primarily in states with warmer climates where adverse weather conditions such as ice and snow are less of a concern.
Lobbying Efforts in Canada
For its Canadian expansion efforts, Waymo's co-CEO, Tekedra Mawakana, along with two other employees, has been registered as lobbyists in Toronto as of November 6, 2025. Their lobbying focuses on discussing the potential development of by-laws and regulations pertaining to autonomous driving technologies. This includes operational authorizations, commercial operations, goods delivery, and ride-hailing services.
As part of its ongoing operations, Waymo reported delivering over 250,000 weekly rides earlier this year. However, a leaked investor letter obtained by CNBC in December 2025 indicates a significant surge in ridership, with numbers climbing to over 450,000 rides per week in cities where the service is currently offered.
Waymo is not the only company venturing into this market. Tesla, led by billionaire Elon Musk, is also in the process of developing a similar robotaxi service, having recently launched full commercial service in Austin, Texas.
Safety Concerns and Previous Incidents
While the potential for autonomous vehicles has been acknowledged, safety concerns remain prevalent. Government officials in Ontario, for example, previously halted a pilot project intended to test self-driving shuttle buses on Toronto roads after a serious incident in which one vehicle crashed into a tree, injuring an attendant on board.
Toronto has explored other autonomous vehicle initiatives, such as a planned 2025 pilot program involving self-driving delivery vehicles. The safety record of autonomous vehicles has been a major concern, especially following the first known fatality involving a self-driving car in 2018, when an Uber test vehicle struck and killed a woman in Tempe, Arizona.
As Waymo pursues its aspirations in Canada, it faces the dual challenges of navigating regulatory landscapes and addressing safety concerns that have historically hindered the deployment of autonomous technologies in various locations.
