Waymo expands robotaxi service to Las Vegas, Detroit and San Diego — London next spring

Waymo has announced it will expand its robotaxi services to three new U.S. cities: Las Vegas, Detroit and San Diego. The company will start mapping and testing in Detroit before opening rides to the public, plans to begin San Diego service next year, and will include the Las Vegas Strip in its initial coverage with an eventual airport expansion.

Existing Waymo cities include Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, Atlanta and Austin, with recent additions like Miami and Washington, D.C. Waymo has also signaled international ambitions, targeting a London launch next spring — enabled by the UK’s Automated Vehicles Act of 2024.

Why this matters

• Expanding to major metros — including tourist hubs like Las Vegas — demonstrates confidence in operational scalability and regulatory progress.
• Integration with airport routes and partner services could make robotaxis a genuine travel option for visitors and locals.
• Competition is heating up: Tesla, Uber/Lucid and others are scaling autonomous services, pushing the market toward faster deployment and broader coverage.

Waymo’s continued rollout highlights the rapid pace of autonomous mobility — and raises questions about rider acceptance, regulatory frameworks and infrastructure readiness. Will you try a robotaxi when it arrives in your city?

Discussion: Do driverless taxis feel safe and practical to you yet — or do you prefer human drivers for now?