TORONTO - Ride-hailing service Lyft is now available in the city of Toronto.
Torontonians were able to download the Lyft app beginning on Tuesday, that allows user to order rides anywhere in the city.
The company's arrival in Toronto marks the first time it has expanded outside the US.
Lyft said in a November blog post that it had been looking at growing internationally for some time.
The move comes five years after the Toronto launch of Lyft's rival Uber sparked protests by taxi drivers.
Toronto city council introduced rules to allow Uber to operate legally last year.
It's anticipated that both Uber and cab companies will need to take a closer look at Lyft in order to stay competitive in the marketplace, and the move is expected to open the door for even more ride sharing companies.
Professor Walid Hejazi with the Rotman School of Management says the introduction of Lyft may even make Toronto look more attractive to big businesses, such as Amazon.
With files from Dave Bradley