Waymo, a brand owned by Alphabet, is beginning preparations to launch a driverless vehicle service in Toronto, Canada.

Initially, the company will create highly accurate maps of the city’s streets and then conduct test drives. During this phase, Waymo vehicles are expected to operate with a safety driver inside. Once the testing is complete, the company plans to make its robotaxi service available to the public.

Waymo is currently working to develop autonomous driving technologies and expand the reach of its services. In March last year, the company launched commercial operations in the US cities of Austin and Atlanta. Its robotaxi service is now available in 15 US cities. Testing is also underway in London and Tokyo.

Toronto’s weather conditions will present a particular challenge for the company, as the city is known for its cold climate. The tests will therefore assess how autonomous vehicles perform in different weather conditions and evaluate the reliability of the technology.