Get ready to see some futuristic cars on the streets with Waymo in NYC now closer to reality.
Waymo, the self-driving car company owned by Alphabet (Google’s parent company), is officially testing its autonomous vehicles in New York. But before you start picturing empty robotaxis zipping down Fifth Avenue, there’s a catch — a human will still be behind the wheel.
The company confirmed it has applied for a permit with the New York City Department of Transportation to begin testing in select neighborhoods of Manhattan and Brooklyn. These test drives won’t be fully autonomous just yet. Trained safety drivers will be behind the wheel as the cars collect data, map the city and help refine Waymo’s technology.
This isn’t Waymo’s first visit to the Big Apple. The company previously ran a short test in 2021, focused on winter-weather data and manual driving. This new phase marks a bigger and more serious effort as Waymo prepares for a potential future launch of its driverless ride-hailing service in NYC.
If approved, this would be New York City’s first official deployment of autonomous vehicles — even if they’re not fully driverless yet.
Currently, New York state law requires a human driver to be present in any autonomous vehicle. Waymo has said it is actively pushing for state lawmakers to update those rules, which would eventually allow completely driverless operation, like what it already offers in other U.S. cities.
Waymo’s ride-hailing service, called Waymo One, already provides over 250,000 driverless rides each week in Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Austin. The company plans to expand into Atlanta, Miami, and Washington, D.C. in the near future. NYC could be next — if regulations change.
Waymo in NYC
For now, the NYC pilot program will cover areas of Manhattan and Brooklyn, including Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, Downtown Brooklyn, and Boerum Hill. The vehicles will also venture into Jersey City and Hoboken to build out regional driving data.
According to Waymo, this testing phase will help improve how its AI-powered vehicles handle complex road conditions — think pedestrians jaywalking, heavy traffic, cyclists weaving through lanes, and those classic last-minute New York lane changes.
Not everyone is thrilled about the news. The New York Taxi Workers Alliance, which represents drivers from Uber, Lyft, and traditional taxis voiced concern over the long-term impact of robotaxis on local jobs. They’ve raised safety questions too, especially in a city where traffic conditions are unlike anywhere else in the country.
Still, some residents are curious — even optimistic. As per social media, New Yorkers who tried a Waymo robotaxi in San Francisco said they felt completely safe and welcomed the idea of the technology coming to New York. Users says they don’t have to worry about over speeding, talking or being kidnapped.
There’s no exact launch date yet for public service, but the Waymo made one thing clear: it hopes to one day offer driverless rides to New Yorkers.
Stay tuned to Nova Cadeau for more updates on how tech is transforming New York’s streets, transit, and daily life.
