Waymo received a limited New York City permit to test autonomous vehicle technology in parts of Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn under strict conditions. Tests must include a trained driver behind the wheel, be limited to eight vehicles, and run only until late September unless extended. Waymo must meet regularly with the NYC Department of Transportation and provide operational data to verify compliance. Local Taxi and Limousine Commission rules bar autonomous vehicles from for-hire services, preventing commercial rider use. Company statements emphasize collaboration with cities for safe rollout; city leadership affirms strict safety rules while expressing interest in tech deployment.
According to the City, Waymo can only operate in parts of Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn, exclusively with a trained driver behind the wheel at all times. Only eight vehicles will be permitted to operate, and even then only from now until late September (with the option to apply for an extension). Waymo will also have to meet regularly with the NYC DoT to report on its operations in the city as well as provide data to confirm the veracity of its compliance claims.
Despite all that, Waymo appeared happy to at least get a few vehicles on the road to test its tech on the crowded streets of the Big Apple. "We believe it is essential for companies to collaborate directly with cities on the rollout of autonomous technology and are pleased to have reached this next step in New York City," Waymo head of US state and local public policy Annabel Chang said in the company's press release.
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