New York governor pulls robotaxi expansion proposal for cities outside Big Apple

The Guardian - World NewsEN 2 min read 100% complete by ReutersFebruary 19, 2026 at 10:24 PM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

New York Governor Kathy Hochul withdrew her proposal to expand commercial robotaxi services to cities outside of New York City due to a lack of support from stakeholders and the legislature. The decision is a setback for companies like Waymo, which already has a permit to test autonomous vehicles in New York City with a safety driver. Waymo expressed disappointment but remains committed to bringing its service to New York and will work with the state legislature. Supporters of autonomous vehicles argue they improve safety, citing examples in other states, while the technology faces scrutiny due to safety concerns following accidents involving other companies. The withdrawn proposal only affected areas outside of New York City, leaving Waymo's existing plans for the city unaffected.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Alphabet ×270% Waymo ×380% Kathy Hochul ×2100% New York City ×4100% United States ×2100%

Keywords

robotaxi 100% autonomous vehicles 90% new york 80% waymo 70% safety concerns 60% commercialization 60% kathy hochul 50% driverless rides 50% permit 40%