Toronto, Ontario -- Autonomous delivery vehicles are about to arrive in Toronto.
Magna International Inc. has received approval from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation to launch a pilot program for its autonomous last-mile delivery vehicles in Toronto.
The pilot, set to begin in the second quarter of 2025, will involve small, automated three-wheeled vehicles designed for package deliveries in designated areas across the city. These vehicles are intended to operate in parts of Ward 9 as well as sections of Wards 4, 5, 11, and 12.
The vehicles will travel at a maximum speed of 32 km/h on roads with speed limits of 40 km/h or lower, ensuring they remain within urban environments where the speeds are controlled. Additionally, the vehicles will only make right turns and avoid left turns, which is designed to mitigate risk while navigating the streets.
Each vehicle will be monitored by a "chase vehicle" that includes a human supervisor ready to intervene if necessary, while a remote operator can also take over control in more complex situations.
Magna's autonomous delivery vehicles, developed in collaboration with San Francisco-based robotics company Cartken, are designed for efficient last-mile delivery in urban environments.
The Model C robots are compact, six-wheeled units capable of operating both indoors and outdoors. They utilize multiple cameras and advanced navigation technologies, including machine learning and simultaneous localization and mapping algorithms, to navigate complex environments and respond to real-time situations.
Magna’s autonomous vehicle project is part of the company’s broader initiative to advance the development of self-driving technologies. The vehicles being tested are specifically designed for last-mile delivery, which is often the most complex and expensive part of the delivery process.
The pilot will begin with a small number of vehicles, but Magna has plans to eventually expand the fleet to up to 20 vehicles, pending further approval from the Ministry of Transportation.
The pilot project is being closely monitored by city officials, though the City of Toronto does not have regulatory authority over the pilot. City staff were invited by the Ministry of Transportation to review Magna’s application and provide feedback. Concerns raised by the city focus on ensuring the vehicles' safe integration into Toronto’s busy streets and the collection of data to assess the project’s impacts.
A comprehensive report on the results of the pilot, including any lessons learned, is expected to be submitted to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee by the end of 2026.
