New York Pulls Back on Robotaxi Legislation

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New York was looking to open up robotaxi expansion in the state, beyond New York City itself. New York Governor Kathy Hochul had put a proposal on the table to basically legalize robotaxis in the state beyond the Big Apple. However, that proposal has now been pulled.

“Based on conversations with stakeholders, including in the legislature, it was clear that the support was not there to advance this proposal,” Hochul spokesperson Sean Butler told TechCrunch.

Naturally, this is not uplifting news for Waymo, which had been intent on expanding into the state. “We hear from thousands of New Yorkers who have experienced Waymo in other cities and want access to it at home,” Waymo responded.

“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.”

Hmm. It’s a bit of a setback for Waymo, but the company has plenty of places to expand into at the moment, so it’s no make or break. I assume the hearings in Washington, DC, influenced the matter and got legislators skittish about approving anything new at the moment.

As it stands, Waymo has permission to test robotaxis in New York City through March 31 — up to 8 vehicles in Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn. That’s not exactly inspiring. In the state in general, the law is that at least one hand must be on the steering wheel at all times, and that ain’t happening in a robotaxi of course. Also, while companies can get exemptions allowing them to test robotaxis, there currently is not an avenue for launching commercial robotaxi service in the state.

New York already is not a leader on autonomous vehicles and robotaxis, but it could fall behind cities around the country if it does get a move on and develop some kind of more permissive robotaxi legislation. Waymo is already in or working on rolling out in several US cities.