Robotaxis may be allowed in New York: What does the new program envisage?
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has proposed legislative changes that could pave the way for the launch of commercial robotaxi services. It involves creating a pilot program for the limited deployment of driverless passenger vehicles in the state outside of New York City.
What is known
The bill was officially presented during her annual State of the State address. Companies will need to demonstrate local government support and compliance with high safety standards to participate.
Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet that tested its cars in New York back in 2025, has publicly supported the initiative. The governor's proposal to legalize fully autonomous vehicles is a turning point for the state's transportation system, said Justin Kintz, the company's global policy director.
Waymo already provides robotaxi services in California, Texas, and Georgia both independently and through Uber. In 2026, the company plans to expand the service to Las Vegas, San Diego, and Detroit, as well as other states. According to Wired, just last year, the company spent over $370,000 lobbying for transportation and telecommunications issues in New York.
Source: Wired
