Waymo received permission from the New York City Department of Transportation to test up to eight autonomous vehicles in parts of Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn until late September 2025. New York State regulations require a trained AV specialist behind the wheel during all testing. After the pilot period, Waymo can apply for an extension. Critics including former Mayor Bill de Blasio and the Transport Workers Union raised safety and job-loss concerns, citing New York's dense pedestrian and vehicle activity. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said the DOT's requirements prioritize safety. Waymo is also testing vehicles in Philadelphia and planning expansion elsewhere.
"If there's one place on Earth that was NOT meant for self-driving cars, it's NYC," calling it a "really bad idea."
"New York is America's most densely populated big city. There's a dizzying amount of activity from an unmatched number of pedestrians, bicyclists, pedicabs, and motorists," he said in the statement.
"will help ensure that the development of this technology is focused, first and foremost, on the safety of everyone who shares our busy city streets."
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