Waymo Receives New York City’s First Autonomous Vehicle Testing Permit

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New York City has granted Waymo its inaugural autonomous vehicle testing permit, marking a significant milestone in the deployment of self-driving technology in one of America’s most challenging urban environments.

Photo: Waymo. Learn more

The announcement, made by Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on August 22, 2025, represents the first time the city has authorized autonomous vehicle testing within its boundaries.

Photo: Waymo. Learn more

The permit allows Waymo to deploy up to eight Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in designated areas of Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn through late September 2025.

Photo: Waymo. Learn more

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Waymo’s application underwent extensive review under the city’s comprehensive safety framework, established in 2024 by the Adams administration.

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The review process required coordination with first responders, submission of detailed testing plans, documentation of vehicle operator qualifications, and demonstration of cybersecurity compliance aligned with industry best practices.

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The approval comes after years of development of Waymo’s safety methodology, as detailed in their recent research publication on autonomous vehicle deployment readiness.

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Waymo’s safety determination process employs twelve methodological criteria spanning architectural, behavioral, and operational domains to evaluate system readiness.

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Waymo Receives New York City’s First Autonomous Vehicle Testing Permit

New York City has granted Waymo its inaugural autonomous vehicle testing permit, marking a significant milestone in the deployment of self-driving technology in one of America’s most challenging urban environments.

The announcement, made by Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on August 22, 2025, represents the first time the city has authorized autonomous vehicle testing within its boundaries.

The permit allows Waymo to deploy up to eight Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in designated areas of Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn through late September 2025.

Waymo’s application underwent extensive review under the city’s comprehensive safety framework, established in 2024 by the Adams administration.

The review process required coordination with first responders, submission of detailed testing plans, documentation of vehicle operator qualifications, and demonstration of cybersecurity compliance aligned with industry best practices.

The approval comes after years of development of Waymo’s safety methodology, as detailed in their recent research publication on autonomous vehicle deployment readiness.

Waymo’s safety determination process employs twelve methodological criteria spanning architectural, behavioral, and operational domains to evaluate system readiness.

Swipe up to learn more!

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