Waymo approved to launch an autonomous vehicle test in New York

Waymo has been allowed to test its autonomous vehicles in New York, the first such approval that the city has given. The company told TechCrunch that it plans to start the “immediately” test.

The company is allowed to develop up to eight Jaguar i-Pace SUVs in Manhattan and in the center of Brooklyn until the end of September. Waymo vehicles must have a trained safety operator in the driver’s seat, with at least one hand on the steering wheel at all times. The company cannot receive passengers (since it would be required by the city’s taxi and limousine committee) and must be met regularly and reported data to the city’s Transport Department (DOT), According to the mayor’s office.

The license brings Waymo one step closer to starting a robot service in the city, which would undoubtedly be the most difficult to date. The company operates today in San Francisco, Austin, Phoenix and Los Angeles. All these are cities of hot weather, and only San Francisco comes close to the complexity of New York.

Waymo has spent years pushing the Big Apple, starting in 2021 when he used Chrysler Pacifica minivans to manually map the city. And receiving this license was not sure. The company has applied in June and has spent the last few months of meeting with legislators and local organizations such as mothers against driving driving.

License is part of a new autonomous vehicle security regime launched by Mayor Eric Adams in 2024. To apply, Waymo had to tune in with the first correspondentsas well as submit a test plan to the local dot, along with a security plan that substantiates vehicle operators, among others. Waymo has also received the “necessary licenses” from the New York Ministry of Mobile vehicles, according to the mayor’s office.

When Waymo’s trial period expires in late September, he will have to apply for extension if he wants to continue to try.

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