New York Drops Waymo Robotaxi Plan After $20 Million Offer Fails to Sway Labor

2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 17

$20 million in proposed worker funding failed to save Waymo’s New York push, after Gov. Kathy Hochul withdrew a January budget plan that would have legalized driverless taxis across much of the state.
Labor opposition drove the reversal: taxi and driver groups argued the technology threatened jobs, and the New York Taxi Workers Alliance quickly claimed victory after the proposal was pulled a month later.
The abandoned measure had already excluded New York City, the state’s biggest market, limiting Waymo’s immediate upside even if Albany had approved the broader rollout.
Waymo’s setback in New York adds to a wider political slowdown for robotaxis, with Illinois legislation stalling after union protests and Washington, D.C., delaying approval for years.

Sources

Left100%

The New York Times5h ago

New York Abandons Waymo Self-Driving Taxi Proposal Amid Labor Opposition

WRGB5h ago

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2026 Robotaxi Setback: Why New York Pulled the Plug on Driverless Rides Outside NYC

Overview

In February 2026, New York State abruptly halted its plan to allow commercial robotaxi services outside New York City, reversing a proposal introduced just a month earlier by Governor Kathy Hochul. The plan, which aimed to let companies like Waymo expand driverless fleets by applying for pilot programs with strict safety and local support requirements, faced immediate and strong opposition from taxi drivers, labor unions, and transit workers. This widespread resistance led to the proposal’s withdrawal, marking a major setback for autonomous vehicle companies and highlighting the powerful influence of stakeholder concerns over safety, jobs, and governance in shaping state policy.

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