Waymo has launched its self-driving robotaxi service in Las Vegas, initially covering a 24-mile area around the Las Vegas Strip before expanding further into Clark County. The move makes Vegas the latest US city to gain access to the Alphabet subsidiary's driverless rides, adding to a rapid wave of expansion as autonomous vehicle operators compete for market share in a city already accustomed to robotaxis.

The service will mainly use Waymo's Ojai all-electric minivans, fitted with sixth-generation Waymo Driver hardware designed to cope with harsh weather. The launch follows last month's approval by the Nevada Transportation Authority, which also granted permits to Tesla and Uber, meaning visitors can expect to see several driverless brands operating on the Strip. Zoox was actually first to market in Vegas, having launched in September last year, while Waymo has separately expanded this month to Denver, San Diego and Tampa, and in August extended its robotaxi operations to Munich, Germany.