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Waymo has been granted a permit to test its autonomous vehicles in New York City, marking the first approval of its kind in the city. The company plans to begin testing immediately.
### Testing in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn
The permit allows Waymo to deploy up to eight Jaguar I-Pace SUVs in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn until late September. Each vehicle must have a trained safety operator in the driver’s seat, with at least one hand on the wheel at all times. Waymo is not permitted to pick up passengers without a license from the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission and must regularly report data to the city’s Department of Transportation.
### Progress towards robotaxi service
This permit brings Waymo closer to launching a robotaxi service in New York City, which would be one of its most challenging endeavors to date. The company currently operates in warm-weather cities like San Francisco, Austin, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, with San Francisco being the closest in complexity to New York City.
### Years of preparation
Waymo began exploring opportunities in New York City in 2021 by manually mapping the city with Chrysler Pacifica minivans. The approval process for this permit involved extensive coordination with local authorities, including first responders, and the submission of detailed testing and safety plans.
### Future testing and extension
Waymo’s trial period is set to conclude in late September, after which the company will need to apply for an extension if it wishes to continue testing in the city.
By complying with the requirements set by Mayor Eric Adams’ autonomous vehicle safety regime, Waymo has positioned itself to expand its testing efforts in New York City and potentially introduce autonomous vehicle services in the future.
