Waymo to Begin Testing Robotaxis in NYC with Human Drivers
Wafricnews - June 30, 2025
New York — Waymo, the self-driving technology company spun off from Google, is setting its sights on the bustling streets of New York City as it looks to expand its autonomous vehicle ambitions. However, the company will not go fully driverless just yet, acknowledging the city’s stringent safety rules.
New York — Waymo, the self-driving technology company spun off from Google, is setting its sights on the bustling streets of New York City as it looks to expand its autonomous vehicle ambitions. However, the company will not go fully driverless just yet, acknowledging the city’s stringent safety rules.
Waymo plans to deploy its vehicles across parts of the Big Apple, but with human drivers behind the wheel to comply with local regulations. The move marks a cautious entry compared to its fully driverless robotaxi operations in cities like Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
The company confirmed it has applied for a permit with the New York City Department of Transportation, which is currently reviewing the request. Under city rules outlined by Mayor Eric Adams last year, any autonomous vehicle must have a person behind the steering wheel, even if the technology is capable of driving itself.
“New York City leads the nation in responsible innovation, and our autonomous vehicle program is no different,” the mayor’s office stated, stressing that public safety remains the city’s top priority.
Waymo also revealed its broader ambition to push for changes in New York State law to allow fully driverless vehicles on public roads, a system it already uses elsewhere. Under current state law, a human operator must have at least one hand on the wheel at all times, creating a major barrier for fully autonomous vehicles.
Although Waymo is currently expanding to other major cities like Atlanta and Miami, it said New York City is not part of its immediate autonomous rollout but remains on its long-term roadmap.
“This is not an expansion, but we have every intention of bringing our fully autonomous ride-hailing service to the city in the future,” the company said in a statement.
The announcement comes at a moment of heightened activity around robotaxis nationwide. The Trump administration has recently moved to relax some federal rules around autonomous vehicles, while Tesla, led by Elon Musk, is preparing to launch a robotaxi service in Austin, Texas.
Meanwhile, labor groups in New York have voiced concerns about the technology, arguing it could threaten the livelihoods of thousands of professional drivers, from cabbies to truckers.
If granted a permit, Waymo would become the first autonomous vehicle operator officially cleared to test in New York City, a crucial proving ground for the future of self-driving technology.
By Wafricnews Desk.
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