Waymo applies permit for testing in New York
Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, Inc. (GOOG), revealed on Wednesday its plans to apply for a permit to test its autonomous vehicles in New York City, marking its first step into the country’s biggest urban market.
New York enforces some of the toughest regulations for autonomous vehicles. Even with a permit, Waymo will need to overcome major obstacles before it can offer commercial services or conduct fully driverless tests in the city.
Several companies have explored or applied for permits to test autonomous vehicles in New York City, though the regulatory environment has been stringent. Historically, Mobileye, a division of Intel, was the first to test self-driving cars in the city, operating under a state permit since June 2021, with plans to expand to seven vehicles by late 2021.
Other firms like Cruise and Optimus Ride have tested in limited capacities (e.g., private roads in Brooklyn), but these were not under the city’s current public testing framework. The strict safety requirements and need for state-level approval have limited broader applications so far.
New York’s rules for testing self-driving cars require a person in the driver’s seat, a $5 million insurance policy, and proper training for every operator of the test vehicles.
Even with these challenges, Waymo is working to change the laws so that cars can drive without a human on board.
