Waymo Granted NYC’s First Permit to Test Self-Driving Cars in Manhattan & Downtown Brooklyn
Mayor Eric Adams and the NYC Department of Transportation have approved Waymo’s application to conduct pilot testing of autonomous vehicles in parts of Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn. This marks the first-ever “testing deployment” permit granted by the city.
Key details:
- Fleet cap: Up to 8 vehicles.
- Testing window: Through late September 2025, with an option to apply for an extension.
- Safety: Tests must include trained safety drivers behind the wheel for now (state law still bars fully driverless operations).
- Reporting: Waymo must regularly submit testing data to the NYC DOT and certify adherence to cybersecurity best practices.
Background: Waymo announced plans earlier in 2025 to expand testing to 10 new cities. The company previously deployed vehicles in NYC to map parts of the city in 2021. Waymo has said it aims to eventually offer autonomous ride-hailing in the city, and it is lobbying to change state law that currently requires a human operator.
Related coverage and sources:
What’s next: Waymo may continue testing with safety drivers while it pursues regulatory changes at the state level to allow truly driverless operations.
Original reporting: Engadget. (Links to the reporting outlets provided above.)