theverge.com·Feb 19, 2026
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has withdrawn a proposal to legalize robotaxi deployment outside of New York City due to insufficient legislative support, dealing a setback to Waymo and other companies interested in expanding their autonomous vehicle services in the state.
New York's decision to drop the plan for legalizing robotaxi deployments outside of New York City is a significant setback for Waymo and similar companies. This highlights the critical importance of securing legislative and political support when planning expansions in new markets. For stakeholders in autonomous vehicles, this case underscores the necessity of robust lobbying and collaboration with local governments to advance commercial deployment plans.