Waymo has applied for a permit from the New York City Department of Transportation to operate autonomously, with a trained specialist behind the wheel in Manhattan. "This is not an expansion, but we have every intention of bringing our fully autonomous ride-hailing service to the city in the future," Waymo said.

Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo has applied for a permit to test its robotaxis in New York City, underscoring its intent to operate in one of the largest ride-hailing markets in the US despite an absence of local regulations supporting commercially operated autonomous vehicles.

Waymo is bringing autonomous cars back to New York City for tests, with the hopes of eventually offering a paid ride-hailing service.