Waymo

February 20, 2026

Hochul nixes robotaxis outside NYC

After backing legislation that would allow self-driving vehicles to be tested outside city limits, Gov. Kathy Hochul has reversed her stance, saying this week that companies like Waymo won't be allowed to test the cars in smaller towns outside of New York City, as Gothamist reported. The latest development does not affect the current pilot program, allowing Waymo, the self-driving car company owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet, to operate eight of its cars in Manhattan and Brooklyn, albeit with a human at the wheel.
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