New York Ditches Robotaxi Plan as Waymo Faces Setback

A decision by New York Governor Kathy Hochul has dealt a significant blow to Waymo, with plans to launch commercially in cities outside of New York City being scrapped due to lack of support from state legislators. The proposal, which aimed to allow limited robotaxi deployment in other municipalities while preserving the mayor and city council’s authority over New York City, was widely seen as a golden opportunity for Waymo and its peers in the emerging autonomous vehicle industry.