New York regulators have expanded Waymo’s autonomous vehicle permit by the end of the year, the company said on Wednesday.
The license was initially granted in August to allow Waymo to try its romance in the city by the end of September. The terms of extensive license are the same: Waymo can develop up to eight of the Jaguar i-Pace vehicles in Manhattan and in the center of Brooklyn with a human safety operator behind the steering wheel. A Waymo spokesman said the license makes company drivers get rid of the rules of New York forcing one hand on the steering wheel at any time.
The extension of Waymo’s license marks that it is the first AV company to launch a robot service on the chaotic and dense streets of New York. The company currently has a commercial service in San Francisco, Austin, Atlanta, Phoenix and Los Angeles and plans to open to the public in Miami, Washington, DC, Dallas, Denver and Nashville next year.
“As a sponsor of the legislation for autonomous vehicles at the state level, I encourage to see New York moving forward with tests that will show us how this technology can improve security, reduce congestion and expand mobility,” said AssemBlymember Brian Cunningham. “This is the type of measured innovation that allows us to prepare for the future, ensuring that progress works for New Yorkers.”
Still, Waymo has a long way to go to New York-a city where the alphabet company has been trying to operate since 2021. Even with this permission, Waymo cannot carry passengers or exploit a Robotto commercial service without getting separate licenses from the Taxi Commission. A Waymo spokesman refused to comment on whether the company is in talks to apply for these licenses. TechCrunch arrived at TLC to find out more about the requirements for AV companies.
Another obstacle is that there is no licensing structure in New York that allows Waymo or any other AV company to try or develop robotam without a safety driver. While Legislation has been entered To create a framework for the driver -free operation, nothing has yet been transferred to the law.
