On February 19, reports surfaced indicating that New York State Governor Hochul had withdrawn a proposal that initially sought to permit commercial self-driving taxi services in areas outside New York City. This decision represents a setback for Alphabet’s Waymo, which has ambitious plans to significantly expand its autonomous vehicle fleet this year. The proposal, put forward by Hochul the previous month, was designed to enable companies like Waymo to apply for permits to test self-driving taxi services. As of now, the governor's office has officially confirmed the withdrawal of this initiative. Waymo voiced its disappointment and emphasized its commitment to continuing efforts to bring its services to New York, while also pledging to work alongside the state legislature to push forward relevant developments.
