Waymo will soon begin testing fully autonomous rides in Las Vegas without a safety driver in place.
Waymo’s initial driver-free rides will only be available to the company’s employees, company officials said, while the vehicles also will travel on area roads with no one inside. No official launch date has been announced.
The empty vehicle testing will be similar to Amazon-owned Zoox’s robotaxi testing in Southern Nevada, ahead of the company offering free rides last year. Zoox is awaiting an exemption from the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration to allow them to offer paid rides, since the robotaxis don’t feature standard motor vehicle features such as steering wheels or gas and brake pedals.
Once Waymo begins offering rides to the public, the market will be among the first to be offered rides in the company’s newest vehicle, the Ojai. The company’s sixth-generation autonomous vehicle features elevator-like doors, with a lower step to make entering and exiting easier on passengers. The spacey interior features three large LED screens that allow riders to control various aspects of the ride including the temperature and music.
Waymo announced their entry into the Las Vegas Valley in November and have carried out test rides since. The move toward test rides without safety drivers means the company is closer to offering passenger rides in Southern Nevada, although a timeline has yet to be announced by Waymo.
Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on X.
