Photo illustration: Aïda Amer. Photo: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Misreading local politics could foil Waymo's ambitious growth plans, erasing the giant lead it has over competitors.
State of play: While self-driving cars are permitted in about half the country, the laws would have to be changed in places like Washington, D.C., and New York, where a human operator is still required behind the wheel.
In other states, the law is silent on driverless cars, which means it's open to interpretation — and debate.
More worrisome for Waymo, potentially: City leaders in some places, including Boston and Seattle, are proposing new ordinances that would prohibit autonomous vehicles.
Zoom in: In New Orleans, City Council President JP Morrell expressed concerns in January about Waymo, saying it doesn't seem like the technology is a "good fit" for the city.
He said he planned to look into it.
The intrigue: Waymo replaced its global head of public policy last year to deal with the mounting headwinds.
