NY Governor Halts Waymo's Robotaxi Expansion

Driverless cab operator WaymoCurrently offers comprehensive services in multiple cities across the United States and intends to significantly expand its offerings to several new areas in 2026. However, in a reversal of a bill introduced last month, one of these locations will not be New York State, as Governor Kathy Hochul has paused an initiative that would have permitted Waymo and similar companies to provide self-driving ride-hailing services outside of New York City.

Related: Waymo's Zeekr Robotaxi Collides with Parked Vehicles Near Dodger Stadium

The Assistance Was Absent

Proposals to facilitate a 'limited rollout' of self-driving taxi services were initially introduced by Hochul in her 'State of The StateThe budget plan released in January. The proposed law would have permitted authorized businesses to function throughout the state, excluding New York City.

Autonomous vehicle trials have already occurred in New York State, and the proposal stated that this law would capitalize on the increasing proof that self-driving cars can enhance road safety and transportation choices when implemented carefully.

However, only a month later,Bloomberghas received confirmation that the proposal has been abandoned. Sean Butler, a representative for the Governor, stated in a release that "it was evident that the necessary support wasn't present to move this proposal forward" after discussions with the relevant parties.

Waymo 'Disappointed' but Taxi Drivers Cheer

Waymo was closely considering launching its ride-hailing service in the state in 2026, according to the company's statement to Bloomberg, where it expressed "disappointment" and mentioned plans to "collaborate with the state legislature" to eventually introduce its fleet of autonomous taxis to New York.

On the other hand, the news received a favorable response from the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, the union representing 21,000 yellow cab and ride-hailing drivers in New York City. Although the initial law specifically left out New York City, the union remained worried that driverless taxi operations in other parts of the state could affect jobs within the city.

The union's executive director, Bhairavi Desai, stated to Bloomberg, "If drivers lose their jobs [due to self-driving taxis] in upstate areas, we anticipate they will seek employment in the city. Although there may be regulatory limits, there are no real boundaries within this industry. It would be unrealistic for Waymo to be content with just a few vehicles in Rochester when most job opportunities are located in the city."

Expansion Plans Still On

Waymo could face challenges in expanding its services to New York State, but it has several other cities lined up for 2026. These include various locations across the United States such as Washington, DC, Dallas, Nashville, Las Vegas, and San Diego, along with its initial international ventures in London and Tokyo.

All that is aimed at the company conducting a million self-driving taxi trips per week by the end of the year, but it's unclear if other locations will adopt New York's approach of being more cautious with these plans, particularly afterseveral recent incidentsrelated to the company's autonomous vehicles.