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2026-02-20 02:13:11
[New York Halts Driverless Taxi Expansion Plans] Waymo's major opportunity to bring self-driving taxis to New York State has been temporarily thwarted. New York Governor Kathy Hozul withdrew a proposal that would have amended vehicle and traffic regulations to effectively legalize self-driving taxis outside of New York City. Spokesperson Sean Butler confirmed the withdrawal, stating in an emailed statement that "based on communications with relevant stakeholders, including the State Legislature, it is clear that there is currently insufficient support to move this proposal forward." This withdrawal is a setback for Waymo, which, along with other autonomous vehicle (AV) companies, has been trying to test and eventually deploy self-driving taxis in New York for years. Waymo stated, "We have heard from thousands of New Yorkers who have experienced Waymo's service in other cities that they want to use the service in their hometown." "They want the safety, privacy, and comfort that passengers in other major cities have already experienced. While we are disappointed by the Governor's decision, we remain committed to bringing the service to New York and will work with the State Legislature to advance this issue."
