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New York hits the brakes on robotaxi expansion plan
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New York hits the brakes on robotaxi expansion plan

#Robotaxi #Waymo #New York #Autonomous vehicles #Governor Hochul #Legislation #Testing permits

📌 Key Takeaways

  • Governor Hochul withdrew a robotaxi expansion proposal for New York state
  • The withdrawal was due to lack of legislative support
  • Waymo is currently testing in NYC with human safety operators
  • The proposed legislation included significant limitations and fees for autonomous vehicle companies

📖 Full Retelling

New York Governor Kathy Hochul withdrew a robotaxi expansion proposal on an unspecified date, a move that effectively halts Waymo's plans to bring its autonomous vehicles to the state outside of New York City due to insufficient legislative support. Hochul's spokesperson Sean Butler confirmed the withdrawal, stating that based on conversations with stakeholders and in the legislature, it was clear that support was not sufficient to advance the proposal. The setback comes as Waymo has been attempting for years to test and eventually deploy robotaxis in New York, with the company expressing disappointment but commitment to continuing efforts to bring their service to the state. The proposal, introduced as part of Hochul's broader budget plan, aimed to amend state laws requiring drivers to keep one hand on the wheel at all times, which effectively prevents robotaxi companies from operating since no human is behind the wheel. Even if approved, the legislation would have imposed significant limitations, including a $1 million fee, $5 million financial security requirement, and deployment restrictions in cities with more than a million residents. Waymo remains active in New York City through a testing permit that allows up to eight Jaguar I-Pace vehicles to operate in Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn with human safety operators through March 31.

🏷️ Themes

Autonomous vehicles, Regulatory policy, Transportation innovation

📚 Related People & Topics

Self-driving car

Vehicle operated with reduced human input on public roads

A self-driving car, also known as an autonomous car, driverless car, or robotic car (robo-car), is a car that is capable of operating with reduced or no human input. They are sometimes called robotaxis, though this term refers specifically to self-driving cars operated for a ridesharing company. As ...

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Waymo

Waymo

Autonomous car technology company

Waymo LLC ( WAY-moh) is an American autonomous driving technology company headquartered in Mountain View, California. It is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company. Waymo operates commercial robotaxi services available to the public in Phoenix, the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles,...

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Kathy Hochul

Kathy Hochul

Governor of New York since 2021

Kathleen Courtney Hochul ( HOH-kəl; née Courtney; born August 27, 1958) is an American politician and lawyer who has served since 2021 as the 57th governor of New York. A member of the Democratic Party, she is New York's first female governor. Born in Buffalo, New York, Hochul graduated from Syracus...

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Robotaxi

Robotaxi

Taxi without a human driver

A robotaxi, also known as robot taxi, robo-taxi, self-driving taxi or driverless taxi, is an autonomous car (SAE automation level 4 or 5) operated for a ridesharing company. Robotaxis operated in an autonomous mobility on demand (AMoD) service could be one of the most rapidly adopted applications of...

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New York

Topics referred to by the same term

New York most commonly refers to:

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Entity Intersection Graph

Connections for Self-driving car:

🏢 Waymo 4 shared
🌐 Robotaxi 4 shared
👤 Quick Assist 2 shared
🏢 Lyft 1 shared
🌐 United States congressional hearing 1 shared
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Original Source
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 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,” added Waymo’s statement. Techcrunch event TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026: Tickets Live On June 23 in Boston , more than 1,100 founders come together at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day focused on growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Learn from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers navigating similar growth stages. Walk away with tactics you can apply immediately Save up to $300 on your pass or save up to 30% with group tickets for teams of four or more. TechCrunch Founder Summit: Tickets Live On June 23 in Boston , more th...
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