Nevada regulators cleared Tesla to run up to 5,000 robotaxis in Clark County, five times the ceiling given to Waymo and Uber. The stock jumped on the news, and the company plans to launch service with Model Y vehicles before shifting to its purpose-built Cybercab.
The Nevada Transportation Authority approved Tesla on Thursday to operate as an Autonomous Vehicle Network Company in Clark County, home to Las Vegas and about 2.4 million people. Tesla's stock rose more than 5% at Friday's close as investors weighed the approval.
Nevada gives Tesla a fivefold edge over rivals
Tesla can now deploy up to 5,000 self-driving vehicles in Clark County over the next 12 months, while Waymo and Uber were each approved for 1,000. Before the ruling, Tesla operated under an interim restriction capping it at 10 vehicles along a narrow corridor of the Las Vegas Strip. A Tesla representative told the NTA the 5,000-vehicle figure was a way to give the company flexibility. The company's own Cybercab chief engineer said reaching roughly 2,500 vehicles in the first year would be a strong outcome.
Uber is pursuing the same market through its Aviari unit, while Motional and Amazon-owned Zoox also hold Las Vegas permits. Service under the new Tesla permit is expected to launch within 30 days, once the company completes vehicle inspections, arranges insurance and files fare disclosures.
Model Y leads before Cybercab
Tesla plans to start service with Model Y crossovers before gradually adding the Cybercab, mirroring the approach it has used in Texas, Florida and California. Tesla currently runs 232 vehicles across those three states, well behind Waymo's 3,871 robotaxis across six states. The Cybercab, a two-seat vehicle with no steering wheel or pedals, went into production in late April after its October 2024 unveiling, and Tesla has been teasing a launch event for it in Austin, Texas.
Sources: MarketWatch, Crypto Briefing
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