Waymo Secures Approval to Start Autonomous Vehicle Testing in New York City

Waymo has been granted permission to test its self-driving vehicles in New York City, marking an important development for the region. The company informed TechCrunch that it plans to begin testing “immediately.”

The authorization allows the deployment of up to eight Jaguar I-Pace SUVs in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn through the end of September. Waymo’s vehicles must have a certified safety operator present at all times, with at least one hand on the steering wheel. The company cannot transport passengers, as doing so would require a license from the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission, and it is obligated to regularly update the city’s Department of Transportation (DOT), as reported by the mayor’s office.

This endorsement brings Waymo closer to establishing a robotaxi service in the city, which may be its most significant hurdle to date. Presently, the company operates in San Francisco, Austin, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, with only San Francisco offering a comparable level of complexity to New York City.

Waymo has been assessing New York City for several years, beginning in 2021 when it employed Chrysler Pacifica minivans for manual mapping of the area. The granting of this permit was not assured; the company submitted its application in June and consulted with local officials and organizations, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

This permit is consistent with a new autonomous vehicle safety framework introduced by Mayor Eric Adams in 2024. To secure the permit, Waymo collaborated with emergency response teams and submitted a testing plan along with a safety strategy that detailed operator qualifications and other requirements to the local DOT. According to the mayor’s office, Waymo has also secured the “necessary permits” from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.

Following the completion of its testing period in late September, Waymo will need to apply for an extension to continue its testing endeavors.

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