RSG267: Waymo's Next Big Move: Cracking the NYC Taxi Market

In this episode, Dawood Milan, founder of Auto Marketplace, discusses the intricacies and the significance of New York City's Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) market. He provides insights into his career transition from finance to managing a successful Uber Black fleet and eventually founding Auto Marketplace. Dawood explains the unique regulations and economic value of the NYC TLC market, the challenges and opportunities it presents, particularly with regard to vehicle caps, insurance, and driver pay. He explores the future of autonomous vehicles (AV) in this competitive and complex market, touching on regulatory hurdles, potential business models, and the challenges posed by New York's unique urban environment. Dawood emphasizes the importance of regulatory acumen and market adaptability for new entrants like Waymo. • 0:00 Intro • 00:32 Who is Dawood and what is Auto Marketplace? • 01:23 What makes the NYC TLC market unique? • 04:50 How did Uber and Lyft impact NYC taxis? • 07:21 What's the current state of NYC rideshare and taxis? • 13:22 How do business models work in NYC rideshare? • 16:30 What is Dawood's fleet and strategy? • 18:40 What challenges and opportunities exist in the TLC market? • 23:02 Why are TLC plates valuable and transferable? • 24:29 How does TLC plate value change over time? • 24:43 Is Waymo entering the NYC market? • 25:25 What are the regulatory and business model hurdles? • 26:49 How are drivers and medallion owners affected? • 30:23 How do fleet management and real estate intersect? • 37:08 What are the key tech and environmental challenges? • 39:54 What's the future of autonomous vehicles in NYC? • 43:14 What are the final thoughts? • Dawood's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawoodmian/ • Automarketplace: https://automarketplace.substack.com/ • X: https://x.com/automarketplc