Waymo gets first NYC permit to test self-driving vehicles

Waymo, the autonomous rideshare company, on Friday received the first permit in New York City to begin testing a limited number its self-driving vehicles.

The announcement, which was shared by New York Mayor Eric Adams and Ydanis Rodriguez, the city’s transportation commissioner, comes after the city last year established a permitting program for responsible and safe autonomous vehicle testing that includes several safety requirements.

The pilot testing phase, which will include eight Waymo vehicles that will be tested around parts of Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn, will be conducted until late September. A trained specialist will be behind the wheel at all times, the announcement said.

After the pilot testing period concludes next month, city officials said Waymo will have the opportunity to apply for an extension to their testing. A full approval of Waymo’s rideshare service to begin operating across the city would require the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission to alter its rules, which currently prohibit the use of autonomous vehicles for for-hire service.

As part of its permit, Waymo is required to coordinate with the city transportation department through regular meetings and data reporting, the city’s announcement said. Additionally, Waymo must certify that it’s adhering to the industry’s best practices related to cybersecurity.

“We’re a tech-friendly administration and we’re always looking for innovative ways to safely move our city forward,” Adams said in the news release. “New York City is proud to welcome Waymo to test this new technology in Manhattan and Brooklyn, as we know this testing is only the first step in moving our city further into the 21st century. As we continue to implement responsible innovation, we will always prioritize street safety.”

Not everyone welcomes the new vehicles, including the Transport Workers Union, which issued a statement on Friday opposing Waymo’s testing.

“New Yorkers be warned, Waymo will turn pedestrians into cannon fodder and will block streets for emergency responders,” reads a statement attributed to TWU International President John Samuelsen. “Waymo isn’t ready for NYC’s streets and the end goal is to replace rideshare drivers, taxi drivers, and transit workers with robots.”

The union pointed to mishaps in other locations, such as in San Francisco, where Waymo cars impeded emergency responders, and in Arizona, where a Waymo car reportedly drove into oncoming traffic.