Waymo is setting its sights on New York City for its autonomous robotaxi service, but faces regulatory hurdles. The company has applied for a permit to test vehicles with safety drivers while actively pursuing changes to state law that currently mandates a human operator in test vehicles. To prepare for a potential launch, Waymo will initiate mapping operations in Manhattan using manually driven vehicles. The push to operate fully autonomous vehicles without safety drivers aligns with Waymo’s existing robotaxi fleets in other markets and signals a broader expansion strategy.