Waymo opens robotaxi service in Las Vegas as its 15th commercial market

Waymo has started opening its robotaxi service to the public in Las Vegas after receiving final approval from Nevada transportation regulators. The Alphabet-owned company said it will invite public riders on a rolling basis, using a launch approach it has followed in 14 other cities.

Las Vegas becomes Waymo’s 15th commercial robotaxi market. For riders, the immediate takeaway is simple: access is beginning, but it is not yet fully open to everyone.

Waymo is beginning with “dozens” of its new Ojai minivan robotaxis. The initial service area includes the Las Vegas Strip south of Highway 589 and into Boulder Junction, according to a spokesperson cited in the article.

Members of the public currently need to request an invite and receive an access code. TechCrunch notes that Waymo typically opens service to everyone within a month or two of an official launch.

Las Vegas is shaping up as a competitive robotaxi market. TechCrunch reports that Tesla and Motional are also planning commercial robotaxi launches there, while Zoox is already operating a commercial service in Las Vegas.

Waymo’s move follows a broader expansion push across the United States and Europe. Earlier in September, the company began offering robotaxis to invited public riders in Denver, San Diego, and Tampa.

The Nevada Transportation Authority approved commercial robotaxi operations in Clark County, which includes Las Vegas. Waymo was authorized to operate up to 1,000 autonomous vehicles over the next year, while Tesla was allowed up to 5,000 and Uber up to 1,000 through partnerships with Motional and Zoox.

Those permits could allow up to 7,000 robotaxis across the county over the next 12 months, though TechCrunch reports it is unlikely the companies will reach those numbers. Waymo currently has a fleet of more than 4,000 robotaxis spread across more than a dozen cities.