Waymo has received a permit to test its autonomous vehicles in New York City, marking the first approval of its kind granted by the city. The company plans to start testing immediately.
The permit allows Waymo to deploy up to eight of its Jaguar I-Pace SUVs in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn through late September. A trained safety operator must be in the driver’s seat at all times with at least one hand on the wheel. The company cannot pick up passengers, as that would require a separate license from the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission. Waymo is also required to regularly meet with and report data to the city’s Department of Transportation.
This permit is a significant step toward launching a robotaxi service in New York City, which would be Waymo’s most challenging market to date. The company currently operates in San Francisco, Austin, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. These are all warm-weather cities, and only San Francisco approaches the complexity of New York’s urban environment.
Waymo has been preparing for this moment for years, beginning in 2021 when it used Chrysler Pacifica minivans to manually map the city. Obtaining this permit was not guaranteed. The company applied in June and has spent the last few months meeting with lawmakers and local organizations.
The permit is part of a new autonomous vehicle safety program launched by Mayor Eric Adams in 2024. To apply, Waymo had to coordinate with first responders and submit a detailed testing plan and safety plan to the local DOT. The safety plan documented the qualifications of the vehicle operators, among other requirements. Waymo has also obtained the necessary permits from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.
When the trial period ends in late September, Waymo will have to apply for an extension if it wishes to continue testing in the city.