Waymo Enters Robotaxi Market in Las Vegas with Rival Zoox Already Established

Waymo has entered Las Vegas as its first public robotaxi market in Nevada, but it's not alone. Amazon-backed Zoox already has a presence there, giving Waymo a established rival to contend with.

The Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) autonomous-driving unit has started offering fully autonomous rides to public passengers in Las Vegas, beginning with a few dozen vehicles and planning to expand the fleet over time.

Waymo is using its newer hardware more prominently in Las Vegas, with the majority of the fleet consisting of the Ojai, its purpose-built autonomous vehicle equipped with the sixth-generation Waymo Driver.

The initial service area spans nearly 24 miles and includes destinations such as Allegiant Stadium and The Venetian. Waymo's expansion into Las Vegas is significant because it shows the company is learning how to repeat its rollout in different cities.