Waymo Begins Autonomous Testing in Las Vegas
Could Sin City be next for rider-only service?
Waymo has announced that they have recieved permits to begin "autonomous testing with a driver at the wheel" during CES next week:
We’re all in! ♥️♣️ We've received authorization from Nevada and have begun autonomous testing with a driver at the wheel in Las Vegas. If you’ll be in town for #CES2026, keep your eyes peeled and come meet us at the West Hall! pic.twitter.com/luPYRrCk9u
— Waymo (@Waymo) December 30, 2025
This is a good sign for a future rider-only rollout. In all current operating cities, Waymo previously began with supervised testing before transitioning to fully driverless operation once the system proved capable and safe in its new environment.
Waymo would become the second autonomous ride-hailing company to enter the Las Vegas market, alongside Zoox, who are currently conducting rider-only testing with free rides available on their app. These rides are limited to a small number of pickup and drop-off locations within several popular resorts.
We’re particularly interested to see how the Waymo Driver handles the notoriously chaotic pickup and drop-off zones at major resorts, which can become extremely congested during busy times. Zoox has so far demonstrated a solid understanding of these environments, though we have seen a few instances of confusion.
Waymo’s announcement may also hint at a potential demo ride (we hope!) for those visiting their CES booth. We’ll be at CES all week, so stay tuned for more autonomy-focused coverage throughout the event!
