NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG) — Waymo’s first self-driving taxis arrived in New York City this week to begin collecting data with a human behind the wheel as the company seeks a permit for autonomous testing.
The Alphabet Inc.-owned company plans to gather data as its cars are driven manually in the city, an initial step into one of the largest ride-hailing markets in the US. Waymo applied for a testing permit from the New York City Department of Transportation in June. If approved, it plans to test its vehicles autonomously with a human safety monitor in the vehicle.
The effort underscores Waymo’s ongoing push into more major US cities as it faces growing competition from the likes of Tesla Inc. and other robotaxi companies. Waymo currently offers paid, autonomous rides in cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix and Austin.
New York state law requires a vehicle operator to be present while autonomous technology is in use, meaning Waymo won’t be able to offer a robotaxi service in the city that’s comparable to its operations elsewhere. Waymo is advocating for changes in state law, a company spokesman said.
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