Oct 22 (Reuters) - Alphabet's Waymo said on

Wednesday it will begin manual testing of its autonomous

vehicles at Newark Liberty International Airport, as the firm

looks to bring its robotaxis to one of the three main airports

serving the New York City area.

The robotaxi firm has grown slowly but steadily over the

years in the United States despite tough regulations and

expensive technology. Now, it is picking up speed through

partnerships with ride-hailing platforms and fleet operators at

a time when Tesla is rolling out its long-promised

robotaxi service in the country.

Waymo will carry out the testing with human drivers at the

Newark airport in collaboration with the Port Authority of New

York and New Jersey, it said in a post on X.

Commercializing autonomous vehicles has proven difficult in

the U.S. amid setbacks for several companies, including General

Motors' ( GM ) Cruise, due to collisions, recalls and federal

investigations.

Waymo last week said it plans to launch its fully driverless

ride-hailing service in London in 2026, looking to expand its

footprint to major international cities.