TLDRs;
- Waymo received a permit extension to test up to eight robotaxis in New York City through 2025.
- The vehicles must have safety drivers and cannot carry passengers without TLC approval.
- New York lacks a legal framework for fully driverless robotaxi services, slowing commercial rollout.
- Waymo continues expanding nationally, with active operations in several cities and new airport testing approvals.
New York City regulators have granted Waymo an extension to continue testing its autonomous vehicles, keeping restrictions in place until at least the end of 2025.
While the decision allows Alphabet’s self-driving unit to maintain its footprint in the nation’s most congested metropolis, it also underscores the regulatory hurdles that still separate Waymo from operating a true commercial robotaxi service in New York.
Waymo Keeps Testing on NYC Streets
The extension, announced this week, permits Waymo to continue deploying up to eight Jaguar I-Pace electric SUVs in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn. Each vehicle must be staffed with a human safety operator, in compliance with the city’s cautious approach to autonomous vehicle rollouts.
A key feature of the deal is that Waymo drivers are exempt from the long-standing New York law requiring one hand to remain on the steering wheel at all times. This exemption is crucial for real-world testing of the company’s advanced driverless technology.
The extension builds on a pilot program originally approved in August, which had been set to expire at the end of September.
No Passengers Allowed Yet
Despite the progress, Waymo cannot currently pick up paying riders in New York. Unlike in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin, where Waymo already runs commercial robotaxi services, the company has yet to secure the necessary licenses from the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC).
Until those approvals are granted, the company’s vehicles can only roam New York streets for testing, not profit. “Measured innovation” is how Assemblymember Brian Cunningham described the cautious rollout, emphasizing that while AVs could improve safety and reduce congestion, the transition must protect New Yorkers first.
A spokesperson for Waymo declined to confirm whether the company is actively pursuing TLC licensing at this stage. Without a clear regulatory path forward, any commercial launch in the city remains speculative.
Legislative Gaps Slow Progress
New York also lacks a statewide permitting framework that would allow autonomous vehicles to operate without a human safety driver. While bills have been introduced to establish such a structure, none have yet passed into law.
This legislative vacuum puts New York behind other states where fully driverless robotaxis are already transporting passengers. For now, safety drivers remain mandatory, limiting the scale and cost-efficiency of the trials.
Still, the permit extension positions Waymo as the frontrunner in eventually offering robotaxi rides in New York City if regulations catch up.
Expanding Beyond New York
Waymo’s ambitions extend far beyond the five boroughs. The company is preparing public rollouts in Miami, Washington, D.C., Dallas, Denver, and Nashville over the next year, alongside ongoing operations in San Francisco, Austin, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Atlanta.
At the same time, Waymo has secured approval to test at San Francisco International Airport, where it plans a phased rollout ranging from employee-only rides to eventual public pickups and drop-offs. This airport strategy mirrors its operations at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor, where it has been shuttling travelers since 2023.
These moves suggest that while New York remains a challenging regulatory frontier, Waymo is steadily building a national network of autonomous mobility hubs.
