Robotaxis are steering through the vibrant streets of New York City as Waymo obtains permission to test its self-driving vehicles. The autonomous ride-hailing firm has secured the initial pilot permit from New York City, enabling it to calibrate its camera, LIDAR, and RADAR systems on the bustling NYC infrastructure. Other self-driving vehicle firms, including rival Tesla, are also advancing into the urban area to secure a foothold in the market within major cities.

The permit permits Waymo to utilize eight Jaguar I-Pace SUVs across Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn until late September. These vehicles will be overseen by a safety operator who keeps constant touch with the steering mechanism. Waymo is not yet cleared to test with passengers due to the city’s taxi and limousine regulatory requirements and had to present additional proposals to the city’s emergency services and Department of Transportation for authorization. The company intends to commence testing its fleet right away.

Last month, Waymo revealed intentions for a robotaxi rollout in Dallas in 2026, following Tesla’s prior introduction of robotaxis. Waymo, a frontrunner in the industry, already manages fleets in San Francisco, Austin, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. Robotaxi enterprises have been progressively conducting trials of autonomous vehicle services in primary cities, mostly in California, though few have entirely launched in the marketplace.