Waymo’s big chance to bring its robotaxis to New York state has been thwarted — for now.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has withdrawn a proposal that would have amended the vehicle and traffic laws to legalize the operation of robots in the state outside of New York City. Hochul spokesperson Sean Butler confirmed to TechCrunch that the proposal has been withdrawn.
“Based on discussions with stakeholders, including the Legislature, it is clear that support was not there to advance this proposal,” Butler said in an emailed statement. Bloomberg was the first to report that the proposal had been withdrawn.
The withdrawal is a setback for Waymo, which has been trying for years — along with other autonomous vehicle (AV) companies — to test and eventually roll out robotaxis in New York.
“We’re hearing 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 convenience that commuters in other major cities already enjoy. While we are disappointed by the Governor’s decision, we are committed to bringing our service to New York and will work with the State Legislature to move this issue forward.”
“The path forward requires a collaborative approach that prioritizes transparency and public safety. We will continue to engage constructively with the Governor, Legislature, and officials across the state to deliver this proven mobility option that New Yorkers expect,” Waymo’s statement added.
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Hochul has introduced, as part of his broader budget proposal, a plan to change a state law that mandates drivers keep one hand on the wheel at all times. That law prevents robotics companies like Waymo from operating in government since no one is behind the wheel — if there is a steering wheel.
Even if Hochul’s proposal had been there, it would not have opened the floodgates for AV companies. The proposal contained a number of restrictions, including that AV companies could not provide rental robot services in any city with more than a million people. AV companies will also need approval from the state transportation commissioner, pay a $1 million fee, and show proof of financial security of at least $5 million. The state would only support robotaxi pilots in cities or townships where there was a clear demonstration of local support, Butler said.
With that proposal dead, the state’s existing AV testing program, which is very restrictive, is expected to remain. Under the pilot program, companies can seek an exemption from the one-wheeler rule, which allows them to develop and test autonomous vehicles in the state, but not launch commercial robotics services.
Waymo is currently testing in New York City, and is allowed to do so until March 31.
New York City regulators gave permission last August to Waymo to test its robotaxis in the city. Under that permit, Waymo is allowed to test up to eight of its Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn, as long as there is a security guard behind the wheel.
Waymo operates in many other states and operates robotics services in Atlanta, Austin, Miami, Phoenix, Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. The company says it provides more than 400,000 paid rides each week and aims for one million weekly rides by the end of the year.
