self driving cars Toronto

Self-driving cars are coming to Toronto sooner than you think

Torontonians are a bit closer to being able to say goodbye to annoying traffic jams and attendant road rage as self-driving and automated vehicles are starting to be tested on Ontario roads.

A pilot program called the WATcar project created in partnership with the University of Waterloo, the Erwin Hymer Group and BlackBerry QNX, is the first automated vehicle pilot program in Canada, according to a press release from the Ministry of Transportation.

"Automated vehicles are driverless or self-driving vehicles capable of detecting and navigating the surrounding environment, and have the potential to help improve road safety and fuel efficiency, as well as reduce traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions," reads the release.

Three cars will be tested as part of the pilot. They are the University of Waterloo's Lincoln MKZ, The Erwin Hymer Group's Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van, and BlackBerry QNX's 2017 Lincoln.

There's no word yet on when cars like these will be available to the public, but the province aims to be a leader in adopting this groundbreaking technology.

Lead photo by

Danielle Scott.


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