Waymo has begun offering public robotaxi rides in Las Vegas, joining a growing list of companies authorized to operate autonomous vehicles in Clark County.

Waymo has officially launched its fully autonomous robotaxi service in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Alphabet-owned company is initially serving a 24-mile area surrounding the Las Vegas Strip, including parts of Boulder Junction. Access is currently limited to invited members of the public who must request an access code, following a rollout strategy the company has utilized in other cities.

Fleet and Regulatory Approval

The service utilizes the company's sixth-generation Waymo Driver hardware, installed in all-electric Ojai minivans designed to operate in various weather conditions. Waymo is starting its local operations with dozens of these vehicles. The launch follows the Nevada Transportation Authority’s decision last month to grant Waymo an Autonomous Vehicle Network Company permit for Clark County. Regulators have also authorized Tesla and Uber to operate in the region. Under current permits, Waymo and Uber are each authorized to deploy up to 1,000 autonomous vehicles over the next year, while Tesla has received approval for up to 5,000. These combined permits allow for a potential total of 7,000 robotaxis in the county, though company representatives have indicated that actual deployment numbers may be lower.

Broader Expansion Efforts

The Las Vegas launch is part of a rapid expansion for Waymo, which recently introduced its service to invited users in Denver, San Diego, and Tampa. The company also expanded its operations internationally in August with a launch in Munich, Germany. While Waymo is the latest to enter the Las Vegas market, the city has seen other autonomous activity; Zoox became the first robotaxi service to launch in the city in September of last year.