US State of New York withdraws robotaxi plans
An earlier proposal by New York Governor Kathy Hochul would have allowed robo-taxi providers to apply for a licence to operate pilot services in the state on the US East Coast—with the eventual goal of transitioning from pilot operations to commercial regular service. It was widely speculated that Alphabet subsidiary Waymo was seeking such a licence in New York.
However, as first reported by the US news agency Bloomberg, Governor Kathy Hochul has now withdrawn the proposal. The state of New York – home to New York City – is regarded as a highly attractive market for robotaxi services due to its dense traffic, and even though Hochul’s draft legislation initially excluded the city itself, it would have represented a significant step forward for robo-taxi providers in the region.
The appeal of the market is underlined by reporting from Politico, which states that Waymo has spent at least $1.8 million on lobbying in the state since 2019 in an effort to influence Hochul, state lawmakers and officials in New York City. Waymo is currently testing vehicles with human safety drivers in the city under a permit issued by former mayor Eric Adams, but this permit expires at the end of March, and an extension now appears uncertain under the changed political circumstances.
“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,” a Waymo spokesperson said in a statement provided to Bloomberg.
Waymo is currently active in around half a dozen US cities and has announced plans to expand into 20 cities in the USA and abroad this year, including London. In the USA, Detroit, Las Vegas, and San Diego, as well as Dallas, San Antonio, Orlando, and Nashville, are considered confirmed, while Miami was added in January. However, New York will not be added to this list. Waymo recently raised $16 billion in a funding round to finance its expansion.
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