Waymo Takes Robotaxis to Las Vegas as Rivals Close In

More than 100,000 people have already expressed interest in riding with Waymo in Las Vegas, giving Alphabet’s autonomous-driving unit a ready-made waiting list as it opens its 15th U.S. market.

Waymo began inviting public riders on Monday, September 14, using a rolling-access model that limits the initial flow while the company tunes its operations. The first vehicles are expected to be its Ojai electric minivans, fitted with the sixth-generation Waymo Driver and designed around passenger comfort rather than a conventional driver’s cockpit.

The opening service area covers nearly 24 miles, including parts of the Las Vegas Strip, Spring Valley, Winchester and Boulder Junction. Waymo said riders will be able to reach major destinations such as Allegiant Stadium and The Venetian. Airport trips are not yet part of the launch, however. Nevada regulators approved Waymo to operate in Clark County, but Harry Reid International Airport requires separate authorization from local aviation officials.

That omission leaves an immediate opening for competitors. Amazon-backed Zoox already offers commercial robotaxi rides in Las Vegas, while Tesla and Motional are preparing their own launches. The Nevada Transportation Authority has authorized Waymo to operate as many as 1,000 autonomous vehicles in the state over the next year. Tesla received approval for up to 5,000, while Uber was cleared for 1,000 vehicles through partnerships involving Motional and Zoox.

Las Vegas also gives Waymo a demanding operating laboratory. Traffic patterns shift around conventions, sporting events and casino corridors, while nighttime congestion and heavy pedestrian activity can expose weaknesses that are less visible in suburban service areas.

The expansion is part of a much larger scaling push. Alphabet said in June that Waymo was already surpassing 500,000 fully autonomous rides a week. Waymo has set a target of more than 1 million weekly rides by the end of 2026 and says it is building toward operations in more than 20 cities.

That ambition will require more than software. Waymo is increasing production of the Ojai in Mesa, Arizona, while widening the network of depots, charging infrastructure and remote support teams needed to keep driverless fleets moving. Las Vegas is another test of whether the company can turn technical leadership into a repeatable transportation business.