Downtown Brooklyn and Manhattan are the newest testing grounds for Waymo’s driverless cars, city officials announced on Friday.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said the DOT granted autonomous car company Waymo its first-ever permit to begin testing eight autonomous vehicles (AV) in parts of Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn. The permit requires to have a trained AV-specialist behind the wheel at all times.
“We’re a tech-friendly administration and we’re always looking for innovative ways to safely move our city forward,” Adams said in a statement. “New York City is proud to welcome Waymo to test this new technology in Manhattan and Brooklyn, as we know this testing is only the first step in moving our city further into the 21st century. As we continue to implement responsible innovation, we will always prioritize street safety.”
Waymo will be permitted to test up to eight autonomous vehicles in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn until late September 2025. After the pilot testing period, Waymo will have the opportunity to apply for an extension to their pilot testing period.
The city's approval strictly relates to testing AV technology, as the use of autonomous vehicles for for-hire service is currently prohibited by New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission rules, and any company providing for-hire service must comply with TLC rules, including by obtaining a TLC license.
The company's ride-hailing service is currently available in Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, Atlanta and Austin, Tex.
As part of their permit to operate within city, Waymo is required to coordinate closely with DOT through regular meetings and data reporting.
“With over 10 million rides completed in five major U.S. cities and a strong safety record, we’re proud to be working with leaders to lay the groundwork to bring this life saving technology to New Yorkers one day, beginning with receiving the first-ever permit issued in the city to drive autonomously,” said Annabel Chang, head of U.S. state and local public policy at Waymo.
