New York hits the brakes on robotaxi expansion plan

Source: TechCrunch

Governor Withdraws Robotaxi Proposal

Waymo’s big chance to bring its robotaxis to the state of New York has been thwarted — for now.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul withdrew a proposal that would have amended vehicle and traffic laws to effectively legalize robotaxis in the state outside of New York City. Hochul spokesperson Sean Butler confirmed to TechCrunch that the proposal has been pulled.

“Based on conversations with stakeholders, including in the legislature, it was clear that the support was not there to advance this proposal,” Butler said in an emailed statement.

The withdrawal is a setback for Waymo, which has tried for years — along with other autonomous‑vehicle (AV) companies — to test and eventually deploy robotaxis in New York.

“We hear from thousands of New Yorkers who have experienced Waymo in other cities and want access to it at home,” Waymo said in a statement emailed to TechCrunch.
“They want the safety, privacy, and comfort that riders in other major cities already enjoy. While we are disappointed by the Governor’s decision, we’re committed to bringing our service to New York and will work with the State Legislature to advance this issue.”
“The path forward requires a collaborative approach that prioritizes transparency and public safety. We will continue to engage constructively with the Governor, the Legislature, and officials around the state to deliver this proven mobility option that New Yorkers are waiting for,” the company added.

The Proposed Legislative Changes

Hochul had introduced, as part of her broader budget proposal, a plan to change a state law that mandates drivers keep one hand on the wheel at all times. That law essentially prevents robotaxi companies like Waymo from operating in the state since no human is behind the wheel — if there is a steering wheel at all.

Even if the proposal had survived, it would not have opened the floodgates to AV companies. The draft contained several limitations:

• AV companies could not deploy for‑hire robotaxi services in any city with more than a million residents.
• Deployment would require approval from the state’s transportation commissioner.
• Companies would need to pay a $1 million fee and demonstrate at least $5 million in financial security.
• The state would back robotaxi pilots only in cities or townships with clear local support, according to Butler.

Current Regulatory Landscape

With the proposal withdrawn, New York’s existing AV pilot program — which is far more restrictive — is expected to remain in place. Under that program, companies can seek an exemption to the one‑hand‑on‑the‑wheel rule, allowing them to develop and test autonomous vehicles in the state, but not to launch commercial robotaxi services.

Waymo is currently testing in New York City and is allowed to do so through March 31. New York City regulators granted a permit last August that allows Waymo to test up to eight Jaguar I‑Pace vehicles in Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn, provided a human safety operator is behind the wheel.

Waymo’s Broader Operations

Waymo operates commercial robotaxi services in several other markets, including:

• Atlanta
• Austin
• Miami
• Phoenix
• Los Angeles
• The San Francisco Bay Area

The company reports more than 400,000 paid rides every week and is targeting one million weekly rides by the end of the year.