Tesla, Uber, and Waymo Get Green Light to Deploy Thousands of Robotaxis in Nevada

Prepare for the arrival of robotaxis in Nevada.

On Thursday, the Nevada Transportation Authority granted three permits allowing Tesla, Uber, and Waymo to initiate commercial robotaxi operations in Clark County, which includes Las Vegas. Together, these permits have the potential to deploy up to 8,000 robotaxis across the county in the next year.

Tesla’s permit allows for the deployment of up to 5,000 robotaxis, while Waymo is cleared to operate 1,000 autonomous vehicles over the coming year. Additionally, Uber has received authorization for 1,000 robotaxis, which it will deploy through collaborations with Motional, a subsidiary of Hyundai, and Zoox. Zoox already possesses a permit for its autonomous vehicle network, enabling it to operate 100 robotaxis.

It remains uncertain whether these companies will be able to launch the anticipated number of robotaxis. Testimony from representatives of Tesla and the others suggests that reaching these figures may not be realistic.

“The 5,000 has always been a ceiling for us,” remarked Eric Early, Tesla’s Cybercab chief engineer, during the meeting. “I don’t believe we will be positioned by this time next year to deploy 5,000 vehicles, and this isn’t due to technology. … We would be very pleased and satisfied if we could achieve 2,500, perhaps a bit more in the next year.”

Even if these companies manage to rollout only half of the expected totals, Clark County — particularly Las Vegas — will become a key arena for robotaxis, with Tesla, Uber (through its autonomous vehicle partners Motional and Zoox), and Waymo all competing for the same customers.

The rapid and large-scale introduction of robotaxis is poised to reshape the city — and its workforce. Depending on how one views it, these companies may create entirely new job categories for maintaining, charging, and cleaning these vehicles, or they could eliminate an entire sector of workers: human taxi and gig drivers.

Members of the Livery Operators Association and local taxi companies have expressed their disapproval of the permits, arguing that the approvals are rushed.

“These applications raise two significant concerns,” stated Kimberly Maxson-Rushton, an attorney for the Livery Operators Association, during the hearing. “One relates to the potential oversaturation of the commercial transportation industry in Nevada,” she contended. “The other concern is about the potential congestion on roadways, particularly in the Golden Triangle.”

(The Golden Triangle, situated between the airport and Las Vegas Boulevard, is the primary area for autonomous vehicle testing thus far. Motional is also carrying out tests in the downtown area and a shopping zone known as Towne Square.)

Uber is trying to position itself as the balanced choice in this debate, promoting a hybrid model where ride-hailing services include both human drivers and robotaxis. The company has advocated for a system enabling robotaxis and human drivers to operate together, a strategy that differs from Waymo’s model while also serving as a safeguard in case its own autonomous initiatives do not keep pace with those of Tesla or Waymo.

During the NTA meeting, Uber reiterated this stance, emphasizing that a hybrid approach would allow cities to gradually introduce vehicles to meet peak demand, rather than inundating the market all at once.