Robotaxis Expansion Faces Pushback in US Cities

The expansion of robotaxis is being met with resistance in several US cities. In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul withdrew a proposal to allow driverless robotaxis outside of New York City after facing opposition from taxi drivers, unions, and state lawmakers. This move has stalled efforts to legalize commercial robotaxis in the state. In Washington D. C. , labor unions are fighting legislation that would permit commercial robotaxis, and lawmakers are considering a 200-vehicle cap and a 15-cent-per-mile fee to fund Metro upgrades and aid workers displaced by autonomous vehicles. The Citigroup report from July highlighted the growing opposition to robotaxis.