Element Fleet Management will provide operational support for Waymo’s autonomous ride-hailing fleet when the technology company launches its service in Toronto in 2028, extending an existing partnership between the two companies in San Diego.
The agreement will see Element coordinate the people, facilities, infrastructure and vehicle operations required to keep Waymo’s autonomous fleet available and operating efficiently.
Its responsibilities will include vehicle preparation, cleaning and maintenance, with the aim of reducing downtime and maximising vehicle utilisation. Element will also manage charging infrastructure and energy requirements for the fleet.
Fleet management becomes critical to autonomous mobility
The growth of autonomous electric vehicle fleets is creating new demands for specialised fleet management services. Without human drivers to arrange charging, schedule maintenance or coordinate vehicle readiness, operators need dedicated systems and operational teams to keep vehicles on the road.
Connected technologies and effective back-office coordination will therefore play an important role in supporting the reliability and efficiency of autonomous ride-hailing services.
Other mobility companies are also positioning themselves to serve this emerging market. Hertz, for example, established Oro Mobility to provide fleet management services for both conventional and autonomous vehicles. One of its early partnerships involves supporting Uber’s autonomous robotaxi fleet in the San Francisco area through charging, maintenance, repairs, cleaning and depot staffing.
Element expands its role in next-generation mobility
Element Fleet Management Chief Executive Officer Laura Dottori-Attanasio said the partnership with Waymo demonstrates the company’s evolution towards supporting next-generation mobility through fleet expertise, intelligent mobility solutions and operational capabilities.
The collaboration is intended to establish a scalable operational foundation for Waymo’s expansion into additional markets.
Waymo’s autonomous ride-hailing service is already operating in more than 15 US cities and has completed tens of millions of fully autonomous trips.
Nicole Gavel, Senior Director and Head of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at Waymo, said the companies and their partners expect to invest in hundreds of roles over time. These will include fleet maintenance, validation driving, customer service and other operational functions required to support the service.
