Waymo launches paid driverless taxi service in Las Vegas

Alphabet (GOOG.US) subsidiary Waymo has announced the launch of its paid robotaxi service in Las Vegas, making it the 15th U.S. city where it offers ride-hailing services. The company stated that the service will begin on Monday and will be rolled out in phases. Initially, dozens of vehicles will be deployed, with plans to expand to hundreds in the future. Waymo noted that the initial phase in Las Vegas will not include access to highways; airport transfers and highway services will be added in subsequent stages. The fleet for this operation is managed by Moove, which also oversees Waymo’s vehicle operations in Phoenix and Miami. Currently, Waymo has over 4,000 robotaxis in the U.S., completing over 500,000 paid rides each week. Previously, the company stated its goal is to achieve service in 20 cities worldwide and deliver 1 million paid rides per week this year, with pilot programs being prepared for markets such as London and Tokyo.