New York Governor Kathy Hochul pulled a proposal that would have amended vehicle and traffic laws to legalize robotaxis outside New York City. Hochul’s spokesperson, Sean Butler, told TechCrunch the plan was withdrawn.
“Based on conversations with stakeholders, including in the legislature, it was clear that the support was not there to advance this proposal,” Butler said in an emailed statement. Bloomberg first reported the proposal’s removal.
The move stalls Waymo’s long-running effort, along with other autonomous vehicle (AV) companies, to test and deploy robotaxis in New York.
“We hear from thousands of New Yorkers who have experienced Waymo in other cities and want access to it at home,” Waymo said in a statement emailed to TechCrunch. “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.”
Waymo emphasized it will continue collaborating with government officials. “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,” the company added.
Hochul’s plan, part of her broader budget proposal, aimed to amend a state law requiring drivers to keep one hand on the wheel at all times—a rule that prevents robotaxi companies from operating without a human driver.
Even if the proposal had passed, it included strict limits. AV companies could not offer for-hire robotaxi services in cities with more than a million people, and they would need approval from the state’s transportation commissioner, pay a $1 million fee, and provide proof of at least $5 million in financial security. The state would only back robotaxi pilots in cities and towns with clear local support, Butler said.
With the proposal dead, New York’s existing AV pilot program will remain in place. The pilot program allows companies to request an exemption from the one-hand-on-the-wheel rule for testing autonomous vehicles but does not allow commercial robotaxi services.
Waymo currently tests its robotaxis in New York City under a permit issued last August, allowing up to eight Jaguar I-Pace vehicles to operate in Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn with a human safety operator behind the wheel. The permit runs through March 31.
Waymo operates commercial robotaxi services in Atlanta, Austin, Miami, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area, giving more than 400,000 paid rides weekly. The company aims to reach one million weekly rides by the end of the year.
