Waymo opens access to robotaxis in Las Vegas
Waymo has begun gradually opening its robotaxi service to passengers in Las Vegas, United States, several weeks after receiving final approval from Nevada state transportation regulators. Initially, those interested must request an invitation and receive an access code.
Initial service area
As TechCrunch reports, Waymo is starting operations with several dozen new Ojai robotaxi minivans. They will serve an area of Las Vegas that includes the Strip south of Highway 589 and extends to Boulder Junction.
The company plans to further expand its fleet and service area. Under Waymo’s usual practice, access to rides in a new city is initially provided by invitation, and within one to two months after the official launch, the service is typically opened to all users.
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Permits for operators
Las Vegas has become Waymo’s 15th market for commercial robotaxis. The company also operates in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, Phoenix, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Waymo launched the service in San Antonio but later suspended its operations there. Earlier this month, the company also began offering rides to invited users in Denver, San Diego, and Tampa.
Nevada’s transportation authority has allowed Waymo to operate up to 1,000 autonomous vehicles in Clark County over the next year. Tesla received permission to deploy up to 5,000 vehicles, while Uber received permission for up to 1,000 robotaxis operating through partnerships with Motional, a Hyundai subsidiary, and Zoox. In total, the permits issued provide for up to 8,000 robotaxis in the county over 12 months.
Waymo’s fleet currently includes more than 4,000 robotaxis distributed across more than a dozen cities. In Las Vegas, Tesla, Zoox, and Motional also plan to launch commercial robotaxi services.
