Waymo brings autonomous robotaxis to Las Vegas Strip
Waymo says its fully autonomous rides will initially operate within a 24-mile area around the Las Vegas Strip before expanding across Clark County.
Waymo has launched its fully autonomous robotaxi service in Las Vegas, adding the Nevada city to the Alphabet subsidiary’s growing commercial network.
The company says rides will initially be available within a 24-mile service area surrounding the Las Vegas Strip, with plans to extend coverage across more of Clark County. The precise level of public access was not specified, with historical context indicating that availability began on a rolling, invite-only basis.
Waymo says the Las Vegas fleet will mainly comprise Ojai all-electric minivans fitted with sixth-generation Waymo Driver hardware designed to handle harsh weather conditions.
The launch follows approval from the Nevada Transportation Authority for Waymo’s Autonomous Vehicle Network Company permit. The authority has also approved applications from Tesla and Uber, although those approvals do not establish that either company has launched a Las Vegas robotaxi service.
Engadget reported that Waymo’s Las Vegas entry follows service expansions announced in Denver, San Diego and Tampa earlier this month, as well as the company’s launch in Munich in August. Zoox reportedly began operating in Las Vegas last September and has since expanded its service area.
