Overview

• Mayor Eric Adams and the city’s DOT approved Waymo to deploy up to eight Jaguar I‑Pace vehicles in parts of Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn through late September, with the option to seek an extension.
• Each vehicle must have a trained safety driver behind the wheel, reflecting New York state’s requirement that an operator be ready to take control at all times.
• The city’s permit covers technology testing only and mandates regular data reporting, cybersecurity certifications, and coordination with first responders.
• Waymo cannot pick up riders because the Taxi and Limousine Commission prohibits autonomous for‑hire service and would require a separate license.
• Testing begins immediately as labor groups including the Transport Workers Union and the Independent Drivers Guild oppose the pilot on safety and job‑loss grounds, while Waymo cites millions of rides completed in other U.S. cities.