Governor Hochul Halts Proposal for Robotaxi Expansion in New York

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has officially withdrawn her proposal to permit commercial robotaxi services in smaller cities outside of New York. A spokesperson for the governor confirmed this decision on Thursday.

“Based on conversations with stakeholders, including in the legislature, it was clear that the support was not there to advance this proposal,” the spokesperson stated.

This decision represents a significant setback for Alphabet’s Waymo, an autonomous vehicle company that received its first permit to begin testing autonomous vehicles in New York City last year. However, these tests have been conducted with a trained specialist behind the wheel.

Waymo, which currently provides paid driverless rides in various cities including the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta, was eager to expand its presence in the robotaxi market and reach a larger audience.

“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,” a Waymo spokesperson remarked.

“We hear from thousands of New Yorkers who have experienced Waymo in other cities and want access to it at home,” the spokesperson added, highlighting the demand for such services.

However, the path to commercializing self-driving operations is fraught with challenges. The technology has faced intense scrutiny over safety concerns, particularly following accidents involving autonomous vehicles.

“Autonomous vehicles are already driving down accident rates and improving pedestrian safety in Arizona, California, and Texas. It’s disappointing that Governor Hochul is withdrawing her proposal, because New Yorkers deserve the same proven protections,” stated Adam Kovacevich, CEO of Chamber of Progress.

(Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)

Photo: Google’s Alphabet Waymo driverless self-driving taxi cab rushing through city traffic, crossing an illuminated street intersection at dusk in West Hollywood, California. March 14, 2025/ Adobe stock photo.

Editor’s Note: The Chamber of Progress advocates for policies that support technology. It is funded by major technology firms including Amazon, Uber, Meta, Google, Apple, and others.

Topics
New York

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has officially withdrawn her proposal to permit commercial robotaxi services in smaller cities outside of New York. A spokesperson for the governor confirmed this decision on Thursday.

“Based on conversations with stakeholders, including in the legislature, it was clear that the support was not there to advance this proposal,” the spokesperson stated.

This decision represents a significant setback for Alphabet’s Waymo, an autonomous vehicle company that received its first permit to begin testing autonomous vehicles in New York City last year. However, these tests have been conducted with a trained specialist behind the wheel.

Waymo, which currently provides paid driverless rides in various cities including the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta, was eager to expand its presence in the robotaxi market and reach a larger audience.

“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,” a Waymo spokesperson remarked.

“We hear from thousands of New Yorkers who have experienced Waymo in other cities and want access to it at home,” the spokesperson added, highlighting the demand for such services.

However, the path to commercializing self-driving operations is fraught with challenges. The technology has faced intense scrutiny over safety concerns, particularly following accidents involving autonomous vehicles.

“Autonomous vehicles are already driving down accident rates and improving pedestrian safety in Arizona, California, and Texas. It’s disappointing that Governor Hochul is withdrawing her proposal, because New Yorkers deserve the same proven protections,” stated Adam Kovacevich, CEO of Chamber of Progress.

(Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)

Photo: Google’s Alphabet Waymo driverless self-driving taxi cab rushing through city traffic, crossing an illuminated street intersection at dusk in West Hollywood, California. March 14, 2025/ Adobe stock photo.

Editor’s Note: The Chamber of Progress advocates for policies that support technology. It is funded by major technology firms including Amazon, Uber, Meta, Google, Apple, and others.

Topics
New York