Waymo gets permission to test robotaxis under strict safety rules

Waymo has received New York City’s first permit to test autonomous vehicles on public streets, with the Alphabet unit saying it will begin trials immediately. 

The approval, announced by City Hall, enables the company to operate a limited fleet under strict safety guidelines and marks a milestone in one of the world’s most complex urban driving environments. 

Under the permit, Waymo may deploy up to eight Jaguar I-Pace sport-utility vehicles in designated areas of Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn through late September 2025. 

Each vehicle must carry a trained safety operator behind the wheel at all times, and the company is barred from picking up passengers during this test phase. 

The Transportation Department will require regular data reporting and coordination meetings, and the Taxi and Limousine Commission’s licensing rules continue to prohibit for-hire service by autonomous vehicles. 

City officials say the program stems from a safety framework introduced in 2024 that opened a new application pathway for AV testing in New York, while keeping human drivers in the loop. State rules also require a licensed driver capable of taking control at any time. 

Waymo first mapped parts of New York in 2021 using manually driven Chrysler Pacifica minivans. 

The company applied for the current permit in June 2025 and, ahead of approval, discussed its plans with lawmakers and local groups, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving. 

The test program does not authorize commercial rides, but it edges Waymo closer to a potential robotaxi launch in the nation’s largest city. Waymo already operates driverless services in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, and partners with Uber for rides in Austin. 

If Waymo wishes to continue operating in New York after the trial period ends in late September 2025, it must seek an extension from the city.