Waymo is set to make its way to Toronto, but the journey ahead will be marked by snowy challenges that require time and training data to overcome, according to experts. The U.S.-based company announced its intention to commence testing on the streets of Canada’s largest city with human drivers in the next few days as part of its mapping and safety validation efforts. Waymo aims to introduce driverless cab-hailing services in Toronto by 2028.
The testing process will occur around the clock, throughout the week, to ensure the technology can adapt to the unique driving conditions in Toronto. While specific details about these conditions were not disclosed by the company, Steven Waslander, director of the University of Toronto’s Robotics Institute, indicated that the significant factor distinguishing Toronto from other cities where Waymo operates is its winter weather challenges.
Waymo initially launched its autonomous driving services in warmer cities with minimal precipitation such as Los Angeles and Phoenix, Arizona. These cities contrast with Toronto’s climate, which experiences snowfall. Adverse weather conditions, including snow, present additional obstacles for autonomous vehicles equipped with cameras, radar, and lidar systems that rely on vast amounts of training data to make driving decisions.
Krzysztof Czarnecki, an engineering professor at the University of Waterloo, highlighted that snow and ice can obstruct cameras and sensors, reducing the effectiveness of the driving system. He explained that autonomous vehicles struggle to interpret obscured objects like snow-covered signs compared to human drivers, as well as adapting to changes in behavior from other drivers during snowy conditions.
Overcoming these challenges involves rigorous testing and fine-tuning of the vehicles in diverse weather conditions. Despite the complexities posed by winter weather, Waymo has been expanding its operations to snowy regions like upstate New York and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The company has accumulated extensive experience in snowy conditions, with over 100 million miles of autonomous driving and continuous advancements in adapting to various weather scenarios.
To enhance winter driving capabilities, Waymo employs innovative solutions such as heaters and mini windshield wipers to maintain clear camera views and ice-free sensors. Additionally, the vehicles act as mobile weather stations, collecting real-time weather data to enhance fleet performance. Despite ongoing developments, Waymo stated that it had not yet achieved full validation for operating its driverless system in snowy conditions as of August 2025.
Experts believe that the progression towards autonomous driving in challenging weather conditions will be a gradual process that may span several years. A phased approach, similar to responses during extreme weather events in other cities, could involve initial operation under favorable conditions before gradually expanding to encompass more adverse weather scenarios as the technology evolves.
