The hurdles Waymo Robotaxi must overcome in New York City

Waymo has received permits to test a small number of self-driving cars in New York City, marking an important step toward commercializing robotaxi services there. However, large-scale deployment in at least two boroughs in the short term remains unlikely due to the maintenance, cleaning and charging infrastructure required for a large fleet.

With approval from the Department of Transportation (DOT), Waymo is allowed to test up to eight self-driving cars in Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn through September. This phase is only to test the technology; the cars will not carry passengers and will always have a safety driver behind the wheel. After the test, Waymo can apply for an extension.

“As autonomous vehicle technology expands across the country, DOT has developed comprehensive safety guidelines to ensure safe, responsible testing on our roads,” said DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “These requirements ensure that technology development always puts everyone’s road safety first.”

New York has a unique urban structure: islands connected by narrow, often congested bridges, and many “old” intersections with very low error margins—a significant challenge for autonomous algorithms. In addition, New York is one of the few markets Waymo plans to operate in (along with Washington, DC, and Philadelphia) that has severe winters for several months each year, adding to the problem of sensors, traction, and poor weather route planning.

Waymo says it has completed more than 10 million trips in five major US cities and has a strong safety record. “We are proud to work with regulators to lay the groundwork for bringing this lifesaving technology to New Yorkers one day, starting with receiving the city’s first permit for autonomous driving,” said Annabel Chang, Waymo’s head of state and local public policy.

At this stage, Waymo is only operating in Manhattan and Brooklyn. The company has not mentioned the possibility of serving airports like LaGuardia or JFK, nor has it revealed a launch date for its charging service or its strategy for partnering with ride-hailing apps like Uber.

The size of the launch fleet is also a question mark. Experience in previous markets has shown that Waymo needs to reach a “critical mass” of vehicles in an area to open the app, otherwise wait times will be long when demand initially flares up. It’s unlikely that Waymo will have enough robotaxis ready to fully deploy in both Manhattan and Brooklyn; that scenario is more likely to happen after the Hyundai Ioniq 5 conversions begin.

On the vehicle side, Waymo is collecting Jaguar I-Pace vehicles to convert into robotaxis, and expects more electric vehicles—including Hyundais—to join the lineup in the coming years. When the service actually starts, New York riders can expect a cabin experience that’s more comfortable and upscale than the “nostalgic aura” of the Checker Marathon from cinematic memory.

In addition to the number of vehicles, operating in New York requires a large infrastructure footprint: parking lots, high-powered fast-charging systems, and post-shift cleaning and maintenance. This suggests that Waymo will be cautious in launching in New York rather than immediately deploying a large fleet. The legal story is equally noteworthy: New York’s influential Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) will certainly question the notion of autonomous vehicles being seen as automating the jobs of human drivers. And even before those debates, there’s the question of profitability—which is still unclear at this point.

“New York City is proud to welcome Waymo to test this new technology in Manhattan and Brooklyn, as we understand this is just the first step in bringing our city deeper into the 21st century,” said Mayor Eric Adams. “As we continue to promote responsible innovation, we will always prioritize road safety.”

• Pros: Official test license; over 10 million completed trips; premium electric vehicle platform (Jaguar I‑Pace) and fleet diversification roadmap.
• Limitations/Challenges: Testing only up to 8 vehicles, no passengers and backup drivers; expensive charging, cleaning and maintenance infrastructure; New York traffic and weather characteristics; fleet size has not reached “critical”; unclear commercial timing and partners; legal and economic questions.

The question remains: By 2035, will Waymo and its competitors’ robotaxis replace most taxis and ride-hailing drivers in the New York area, or will they remain a niche service? The answer will depend on how quickly the fleet expands, the quality of infrastructure, and the regulatory framework.