US states and cities tighten robotaxi rules as Waymo expands to 11 cities

August 24, 2026 at 09:42 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul withdrew a proposal to allow driverless robotaxis outside New York City after opposition from taxi drivers, unions, and lawmakers. Six months later, commercial driverless service remains illegal in the state. Meanwhile, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is calling for tougher robotaxi regulations after Waymo vehicles repeatedly snarled traffic during emergencies.

Key Facts

New York Governor Kathy Hochul withdrew a proposal to allow driverless robotaxis outside New York City earlier this year.
Commercial driverless service remains illegal in New York six months after the proposal was withdrawn.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is calling for tougher robotaxi regulations after Waymo vehicles repeatedly snarled traffic during emergencies and major events.
Waymo is currently operating more than 3,500 vehicles publicly in 11 US cities.
Zoox began offering paid rides in Las Vegas and plans to extend its Explorer program to Austin and Miami later this year.

Regulatory Pushback

In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul withdrew a proposal earlier this year that would have opened the door to driverless robotaxis outside New York City. Taxi drivers, unions, and state lawmakers opposed the proposal. Six months later, commercial driverless service remains illegal in the state, and legalization efforts are stalled. In DC, labor unions are fighting legislation that would legalize commercial robotaxis. Lawmakers are weighing a 200-vehicle cap and a 15-cent-per-mile fee that would fund Metro upgrades and aid workers displaced by autonomous vehicles.

Local Enforcement

In San Francisco, Mayor Daniel Lurie, a vocal supporter of robotaxis, is now calling for tougher robotaxi regulations after Waymos repeatedly snarled traffic during emergencies and major events. As of July, California police can now formally cite autonomous-vehicle manufacturers when their driverless cars break traffic laws. Texas this year began enforcing new permitting requirements for commercial AV operators. Cities in Florida have complained that state preemption laws leave them with little power to respond to problems on their own streets.

Industry Expansion

Waymo, the market leader, is currently operating more than 3,500 vehicles publicly in 11 US cities. Zoox, a purpose-built robotaxi without a steering wheel, just began offering paid rides in Las Vegas. Zoox continues to offer free trips to users of its Explorer program in San Francisco as it collects feedback. Zoox is testing in a total of 10 cities and plans to extend the Explorer program to Austin and Miami later this year.