Companies like G.M., which purchased Cruise Automation last year to compete in the world of driver-free tech, are moving ahead, and officials there believe that Manhattan’s packed streets make the perfect lab.

“New York City is one of the most densely populated places in the world and provides new opportunities to expose our software to unusual situations,” according to a statement from Cruise’s chief executive officer, Kyle Vogt. “Which means we can improve our software at a much faster rate.”