New York City Mayor Adams and the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced on the 22nd that they have approved the first test conducted by the autonomous driving technology company Waymo in New York City, making it the first official autonomous vehicle testing enterprise in the city.
According to the city government, this test allows Waymo to deploy up to 8 autonomous vehicles, operating in the heart of Manhattan and Brooklyn. The testing will be valid until the end of September, with the option to apply for an extension afterward.
Compared to other cities, New York City has the strictest safety regulations in the United States: all vehicles must be equipped with professionally trained drivers who must have their hands on the steering wheel at all times; Waymo is required to regularly report operating data to the DOT and comply with cybersecurity and data transparency standards; vehicles cannot be used for passenger services and must adhere to the regulations of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC).
Mayor Adams stated that the city will manage new technologies to the highest standards, calling it “not only a step forward in innovation but also in safety.” The head of the Department of Transportation also emphasized that the testing project is carried out with the utmost priority on ensuring the safety of pedestrians and passengers.
This is the first time that New York City has issued such a testing permit. Tech media outlet TechCrunch revealed that the model being tested is the Jaguar I-Pace electric SUV. According to several local media reports, this test is seen as a “pilot program,” with the future impact determining whether to expand the scale.
Waymo currently operates autonomous taxi services in cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. However, due to its high traffic density and complex environment, New York City has always been considered the “ultimate test” for autonomous driving technology. Although this test does not involve commercial operations yet, it is regarded as an important step for Waymo’s entry into the New York City market.
Experts point out that this move signifies New York City’s willingness to embrace cutting-edge technology while ensuring traffic safety, which may influence the policy layout of other major cities in the United States regarding autonomous driving in the future.