Waymo wants to bring self-driving cars to New York City but with one big difference
New York City could soon get Waymo self-driving cars
- Waymo, an Alphabet subsidiary, is seeking a permit to operate self-driving cars in Manhattan with a trained specialist behind the wheel.
- The current operation in New York City is a test phase, not yet serving customers, as fully autonomous operation without a driver is currently illegal in the state.
- Waymo aims to eventually bring its fully autonomous ride-hailing service to New York, while the city's transportation office reviews the permit with public safety as a priority.
- Waymo's self-driving cars are already active in several cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Austin, with plans for further expansion.
- Separately, Elon Musk’s Tesla is preparing to launch its own robotaxi service in Austin, starting with a limited number of vehicles and emphasizing safety.