Overview

• Up to eight autonomous Jaguar I‑Pace SUVs may operate in zones covering Manhattan south of 112th Street and Downtown Brooklyn north of Atlantic Avenue and west of Carlton Street through late September, with an option to apply for an extension.
• Vehicles are not allowed to carry passengers or operate as for-hire taxis during the pilot under Taxi and Limousine Commission rules, and each car must have a human AV specialist ready to take control at all times.
• City requirements include background checks and training for operators, frequent breaks to prevent distraction, certification of compliance with traffic and curb rules, and regular data reporting and coordination with the Department of Transportation.
• Waymo began on-street testing immediately after approvals, drawing protests from driver groups including the Independent Drivers Guild, Justice for App Workers, and the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, which rallied outside Gov. Hochul’s office calling for a halt.
• State law currently bars fully driverless operation, legislators have introduced bills to lift the human-operator requirement, and Waymo points to more than 10 million rides in other U.S. cities as it lobbies for a path to future service.