Forbesยท2025-08-22 17:20Core Insights - Waymo has received a permit from New York City to test up to eight autonomous vehicles in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn until late September [1][2] - A trained safety specialist must be present in the driver's seat during the testing period, as per New York state law [2][5] - Waymo plans to start testing its autonomous vehicles immediately and can apply for an extension after the initial testing period [2][3] Company Background - Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, began offering driverless ridesharing services in Phoenix in 2020 and has since expanded to cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Austin [4] - The company previously tested its vehicles in parts of Manhattan in 2021 and is currently competing with Tesla's Robotaxi service [4] - The New York Taxi and Limousine Commission reported 178,917 active licensed drivers in 2024, which includes both taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers [4] Regulatory Context - New York state law mandates that autonomous vehicles must have a human present in the driver's seat at all times, which Waymo is lobbying to change [5]