Waymo’s big chance to bring robotaxis to New York state has been blocked for now.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has withdrawn a proposal to amend vehicle and traffic laws that would have effectively legalized robotaxis in states other than New York City. Hochul spokesperson Sean Butler confirmed to TechCrunch that the proposal has been withdrawn.
“Based on our conversations with stakeholders, including Congress, it was clear there was no support to move forward with this proposal,” Butler said in an emailed statement. Bloomberg first reported that the proposal had been removed.
The withdrawal is a setback for Waymo, which, like other self-driving vehicle (AV) companies, has been trying for years to test and eventually introduce robotaxis in New York.
“We’re hearing from thousands of New Yorkers who have experienced Waymo in other cities and want to access Waymo at home,” Waymo said in an emailed statement to TechCrunch.
“They want the safety, privacy, and comfort that passengers in other major cities already enjoy. Although we are disappointed in the governor’s decision, we are committed to bringing our services to New York and will work with the state Legislature to advance this issue.”
“Moving forward requires a collaborative approach that prioritizes transparency and public safety. We will continue to engage constructively with the Governor, the Legislature, and officials across the state to deliver this proven mobility option that New Yorkers have been waiting for,” Waymo’s statement added.
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As part of his broader budget proposal, Hochul had introduced a plan to change state law that requires drivers to always have one hand on the steering wheel. The law essentially prevents robotaxi companies like Waymo from operating in the state, since there is no human behind the wheel, if any at all.
Even if Hochul’s proposal had survived, it would not have opened the floodgates for AV companies. The proposal included a number of restrictions, including that AV companies would not be able to offer rental robotaxi services in cities with a population of more than 1 million people. AV companies must obtain approval from the state Transportation Commission, pay a $1 million fee and provide at least $5 million in evidence of financial security. Butler said the state should have supported robotaxi pilots only in cities and townships with clear local support.
With the proposal defeated, the state’s existing AV pilot program, which is far more restrictive, is expected to survive. The pilot program allows companies to seek exemptions from the one-handed steering wheel rule, allowing them to develop and test self-driving cars in the state, but not to launch commercial robotaxi services.
Waymo is currently testing in New York City and is allowed to do so until March 31st.
Last August, New York City regulators granted Waymo permission to test robot taxis in the city. Under the permit, Waymo is allowed to test up to eight Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn, as long as there is a human safety operator in the driver’s seat.
Waymo is active in many other states, operating commercial robotaxi services in Atlanta, Austin, Miami, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area. The company said it provides more than 400,000 paid rides each week and is targeting 1 million weekly rides by the end of the year.
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