Waymo can keep testing robotaxis in NYC until end of 2025 

New York City regulators have extended Waymo’s autonomous vehicle testing permit through the end of 2025, allowing the company to continue deploying up to eight Jaguar I-Pace robotaxis in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn. The permit, initially granted in August and set to expire in September, permits Waymo’s vehicles to operate with a human safety operator behind the wheel, who is exempt from the city’s usual requirement to keep one hand on the wheel at all times. This extension marks a significant step toward Waymo potentially becoming the first autonomous vehicle (AV) company to launch a robotaxi service in New York City’s complex and congested urban environment. Waymo currently operates commercial robotaxi services in several U.S. cities, including Austin, Atlanta, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, with plans to expand to Miami, Washington, D.C., Dallas, Denver, and Nashville within the next year. Despite the permit extension, a major regulatory challenge remains: New York lacks a legal framework that allows fully driverless