New York halts the expansion plan for self-driving taxis.

Waymo's major opportunity to introduce its autonomous taxis to New York state has been temporarily thwarted. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has withdrawn a proposal that would have modified vehicle and traffic regulations, effectively legalizing autonomous taxis outside of New York City. Hochul's spokesperson Sean Butler confirmed that the proposal has been withdrawn. Butler stated in a statement sent via email, "Based on communication with stakeholders including the state legislature, it is clear that there is currently not enough support to move forward with this proposal." This setback is a blow to Waymo. For years, Waymo, along with other self-driving car companies, has been trying to test and eventually deploy autonomous taxis in New York. Waymo stated, "We have heard from thousands of New Yorkers who have experienced Waymo services in other cities, expressing their desire to use the service in their hometown as well." "They want to have the same safety, privacy, and comfort that passengers in other major cities have experienced. Despite our disappointment in the governor's decision, we remain committed to bringing our service to New York and will work with the state legislature to advance this issue."