Nevada OKs Robotaxi Permits for Tesla, Uber, and Waymo in Clark County

Under the permits, Tesla may deploy up to 5,000 robotaxis; Waymo and Uber each up to 1,000. Uber’s fleet will operate through partnerships with Hyundai subsidiary Motional and Amazon-owned Zoox, which already holds a permit for 100 robotaxis.

TechCrunch reported that Tesla’s Cybercab chief engineer, Eric Early, told the Nevada Transportation Authority hearing that 5,000 is “always a ceiling” for the company. He said Tesla would be “extremely happy and satisfied” if it could deploy 2,500 vehicles or slightly more in the next year, and that reaching 5,000 was not expected.

The same report said local taxi companies and the Livery Operators Association opposed the permits. Their lawyer, Kimberly Maxson-Rushton, cited concerns about oversaturating Nevada’s commercial transportation industry and overcrowding roads, especially the “Golden Triangle” area between the airport and Las Vegas Boulevard.

Uber has advocated a hybrid approach, where robotaxis join human drivers on ride-hailing networks rather than flooding the market. According to TechCrunch, Uber made that case during the hearing, arguing it would allow cities to gradually integrate autonomous vehicles to meet peak demand.

Engadget added that Tesla’s permit also allows state-wide operation as long as the company notifies the agency before expanding. It said Tesla is working with law enforcement to shoot a five-minute step-by-step video for emergencies involving its autonomous vehicles. Engadget also reported that Waymo, which was allowed to operate fully driverless in Las Vegas in July, can now charge for rides; and Uber’s global head of Autonomous Mobility & Delivery, Sarfraz Maredia, announced the approval.