Waymo currently manages 250,000 weekly trips across cities like San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Austin, and is advocating for state law changes to enable fully driverless ride-hailing in New York.

The mayor's office has emphasized the importance of public safety in their autonomous vehicle program and is currently reviewing Waymo's permit application.

Following Waymo's announcement, shares of Lyft and Uber fell in the stock market, as investors anticipate potential market disruption from Waymo's expansion.

Waymo's parent company, Alphabet, reported a $4.1 billion loss last year, although this is minor compared to its overall $100 billion net income in 2024.

According to Waymo's data, their technology has been linked to a 78% reduction in injury-causing collisions, including a 93% decrease in incidents involving pedestrians.

Waymo plans to increase its vehicle fleet to 2,500 by partnering with manufacturers like Toyota and Zeekr, despite this being smaller than traditional automakers' production capacities.

While Waymo is making strides, competitors like General Motors and Ford have ceased their self-driving car services due to resource demands and competition.

In parallel, Tesla is conducting its own robo taxi tests in Austin, but with a different approach, allowing cars to operate without a human driver present, raising questions about safety oversight.

Despite past attempts by companies like Mobileye and Cruise to test self-driving technology in NYC, none have progressed beyond initial demonstrations due to regulatory challenges.

New York's regulations on autonomous vehicles are stringent, requiring a $5 million insurance policy and mandatory training for test vehicle operators.

Waymo has applied for a permit to test autonomous vehicles in New York City with a human driver present, marking a significant step towards potentially serving New Yorkers in the future.

This announcement comes amid a broader context of regulatory changes and competition in the autonomous vehicle space, including Tesla's plans for a robotaxi service in Austin, Texas.