In a move signaling global expansion, Waymo, the renowned American autonomous driving technology company, is eyeing entry into the Canadian market with its popular robotaxi service.
A spokesperson for the California-based tech giant expressed ambitions for Waymo to introduce its fully autonomous ride-hailing service in several prominent Canadian cities. The company is actively engaging with Canadian officials to showcase its cutting-edge technology and advocate for the necessary regulatory frameworks to facilitate its launch in the country.
As a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, Waymo currently operates its robotaxi service in select urban areas across the United States. Recent announcements have outlined plans for the service to reach 12 major cities, primarily in regions with milder climates to minimize weather-related challenges.
Notably, Waymo’s co-CEO, Tekedra Mawakana, and two other company representatives have been registered as lobbyists in Toronto to discuss potential regulations related to autonomous driving technologies, signaling a proactive approach to navigating the regulatory landscape in Canada.
While Waymo has reported significant growth in ridership, with weekly rides surpassing 450,000 in cities where the service is available, competitors like Tesla, spearheaded by Elon Musk, are also making strides with their own robotaxi service, having recently launched commercial operations in Austin, Texas.
Despite the advancements in autonomous vehicle technology, concerns around safety persist in the industry. Past incidents, such as the Uber self-driving car accident in 2018 that resulted in a fatality, emphasize the need for stringent safety measures in the development and deployment of such technologies.
The potential entry of Waymo into the Canadian market underscores the continued evolution of autonomous driving services globally and the ongoing efforts to address regulatory, safety, and operational challenges.
Keyphrase: Waymo expansion Canada