Tesla's plans for robotaxis in Nevada progress as they receive a testing permit.
Earlier this summer, Tesla commenced offering rides in autonomous Model Y SUVs in Austin. The robotaxi service, which features a Tesla employee occupying the front passenger seat, initially launched in South Austin. It has since expanded to cover a larger portion of the city.
Equipped with a new permit from the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, Tesla is set to commence testing its autonomous vehicle technology on public roads within the state. This testing permit, initially highlighted by Tesla influencer Sawyer Merritt, was granted two months after CEO Elon Musk detailed the company's intentions to expand its autonomous vehicle initiatives beyond Austin and into various new markets.
"We anticipate significantly broadening our service area, far exceeding what our competitors are currently offering, hopefully within a week or two. We are obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals to launch in the Bay Area, Nevada, Arizona, Florida, and several other locations," Musk stated during Tesla's earnings call for the second quarter on July 23. "As we secure the necessary approvals and demonstrate safety, we will initiate autonomous ride-hailing services across a majority of the country. I believe we will likely achieve autonomous ride-hailing availability for approximately half of the U.S. population by the year's end. That is at least our objective, contingent upon regulatory approvals."
Earlier this summer, Tesla began providing rides in driverless Model Y SUVs in Austin. The robotaxi service, which features a Tesla employee seated in the front passenger seat, commenced in South Austin and has since expanded to cover more areas of the city.
Gaining entry into Nevada for Tesla, or any company wishing to test its autonomous vehicle technology on public streets, is relatively uncomplicated compared to California. Tesla and other companies must complete a testing registry permit application, which is subsequently reviewed and processed by the state DMV. The regulatory body then issues a Certificate of Compliance for testing, along with sets of red license plates for each vehicle included in the application. According to Merritt, Tesla has received this certificate.
Representatives from the Nevada DMV have confirmed that Tesla submitted its Testing Registry certification on September 3, which was subsequently processed by the office of business licensing (OBL) team on Wednesday. DMV spokesperson Hailey Foster clarified that this indicates Tesla is currently authorized to test autonomous vehicles within the state; however, they are prohibited from deploying these vehicles for regular operational use as a service. "Tesla will still need to complete the self-certification for operations process to be able to rollout with an entire program, i.e. Robotaxi," she stated in the email.
In order to comply, companies testing autonomous vehicles (AVs) on public roads must provide evidence of maintaining $5 million in insurance coverage, as mandated by the agency’s regulations. Once the vehicles are operational on the roads, companies are required to report any traffic incidents to the DMV within a 10-day timeframe.
Nevada boasts a regulatory environment that is favorable to autonomous vehicles, making it a hub of activity for the industry. Companies such as Motional and Lyft have conducted tests on public streets in Las Vegas for several years, while Nuro has established a closed test track within the state.
However, it is Zoox, with its uniquely designed cube-like robotaxis, that has become emblematic of Las Vegas. Earlier this week, Zoox announced the launch of its robotaxi service to the public, although these rides will be complimentary until the company secures regulatory approval to implement a fare.
Should Tesla wish to operate a commercial robotaxi service, the company will need to undertake further actions, including obtaining approval from the Nevada Transportation Authority to function as an autonomous vehicle network company.