Autonomous Tesla taxicabs set to cruise through New York City streets.
In the bustling streets of New York City, the self-driving revolution is gaining momentum. Two major players in the autonomous vehicle industry, Tesla and Waymo, are making significant moves to establish a presence in the city.
Tesla is actively conducting robotaxi testing in New York City, hiring vehicle operators to drive prototype cars equipped with autonomous driving systems. These operators, based in Queens, are paid up to $33.66 per hour and work flexible shifts to support Tesla's Autopilot and robotaxi development. This active recruitment and testing activity signals concrete progress towards expanding robotaxi operations in NYC beyond Tesla's earlier sites like Austin, Texas[1][2].
However, as of August 2025, no publicly available information indicates that Tesla has secured a formal permit specifically for robotaxi testing or commercial robotaxi operations in New York City. The data mainly reflect Tesla's recruitment and testing activities. In contrast, Waymo has recently obtained permits for self-driving testing in NYC[3], but no such permit information was found for Tesla in the current results.
Waymo is also collecting driving data in New York City, with plans to test autonomous vehicles in the city. Moreover, the company has already applied for a permit to test autonomous vehicles in New York City and aims to be the first to start testing[4].
Meanwhile, Uber and Lucid Motors have launched a robotaxi alliance, but no details are given about their plans for New York City. The taxi industry, however, is not mentioned in the current paragraph.
Tesla has not yet applied for permits to test or operate robotaxis in California, where it is headquartered. Furthermore, the public version of the robotaxi ride-sharing service in Austin, Texas, will be available in September, according to Elon Musk, but no timeline has been provided for when Tesla's robotaxi app will be available in New York City.
It's worth noting that New York City's transportation department requires companies operating autonomous vehicles to have a safety driver on board who can take control of the wheel at any time. This regulation is in place to ensure public safety while autonomous vehicles are being tested and refined.
In Arizona, Tesla has applied for permits to test and operate robotaxis in the Phoenix region. The data collected will also be used to develop a technically reduced version for private users.
Interestingly, Tesla has not launched a ride-hailing app in the Bay Area for invited guests, unlike Waymo. However, with Tesla's aggressive recruitment and testing activities in New York City, it seems the company is poised to make a significant entry into the city's autonomous ride-hailing market.
[1] Source: Tesla Job Listing for Data Collectors in California, Texas, and Florida (Tesla, 2025) [2] Source: Tesla Expands Robotaxi Operations in Austin, Texas (Tesla, 2025) [3] Source: Waymo Obtains Permit for Self-Driving Testing in NYC (Waymo, 2025) [4] Source: Waymo Plans to Test Autonomous Vehicles in New York City (Waymo, 2025)
- To enhance its presence in various sectors, Tesla, besides focusing on robotaxi testing in New York City, could consider implementing vocational training programs for its operators, enabling them to better understand and operate the autonomous driving systems effectively.
- As technology continues to evolve and revolutionize transportation, it would be beneficial for New York City's community policy to incorporate provisions for vocational training programs within the autonomous vehicle industry, ensuring a skilled workforce and smooth integration of this technology into the city's landscape.
