Waymo Launches Las Vegas Service and Plans Tokyo Expansion

Autonomous driving company Waymo launched its paid robotaxi service in Las Vegas on September 14, marking its 15th U.S. city. The service is rolling out to the public using Ojai minivans, starting with dozens of vehicles and scaling to hundreds. The initial service area covers Boulder Junction and the Las Vegas Strip south of Highway 589, though vehicles currently lack access to airports and freeways. Waymo stated that adding such access in future phases is typical when beginning service in a new city.

The expansion follows approval from the Nevada Transportation Authority to operate up to 1,000 vehicles in Clark County over the next year. To support the launch, Waymo partnered with the Las Vegas Raiders to create a dedicated pickup and drop-off zone at Allegiant Stadium. The company also partnered with Lyft Inc. in Nashville to allow users to book autonomous rides through the Lyft app.

Looking toward international growth, Waymo announced plans to launch a fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Tokyo in 2027. Partnering with taxi operator Nihon Kotsu and mobility platform GO, the company intends to deploy a fleet of approximately 100 vehicles across key neighborhoods. Waymo has conducted supervised driving tests in Tokyo since 2025 to adapt its technology to left-hand traffic and narrow roads, aiming to help Japan address driver shortages caused by an aging population.