Tesla Robotaxi Approved for Limited Operation in Nevada—Only 10 Vehicles Authorized

In early June 2024, Tesla Robotaxi LLC submitted an application to the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles seeking an Autonomous Vehicle Network Company (AVNC) permit, with plans to deploy up to 5,000 autonomous vehicles in its first year. On July 27, 2024, the state issued a permit authorizing only 10 fully driverless vehicles to operate, restricted to geofenced areas approved by regulators, with a maximum speed of 45 mph (approximately 72 km/h), and prohibited from picking up passengers at airports. The permit requires each vehicle to be clearly marked with a “robotaxi” label, mandates that passengers be informed they are riding in a driverless vehicle, and stipulates that trips must be subject to “appropriate human oversight.” Additionally, any accident, system failure, or vehicle immobilization must be reported within five business days. To expand the fleet beyond 10 vehicles, Tesla must reapply for approval. Currently, Tesla operates approximately 20 unsupervised robotaxis simultaneously across the U.S., with peak numbers in Austin reaching nearly 25 before declining somewhat. Production of the Tesla Cybercab is outpacing deployment capacity, and the company anticipates that its Robotaxi program will not generate meaningful revenue until 2027.