Tesla Gets Nevada Approval for Robotaxi Testing

Cassie Miller

4 days ago

Tesla just got the thumbs up from Nevada’s Department of Motor Vehicles to test its Robotaxi service on public roads. The company dropped off its application on September 3 and got approved seven days later on September 10.

Nevada is now the third state letting Tesla run its self-driving taxi tests. Texas and California were first to say yes.

Tesla kicked off its Robotaxi service in Austin back in June 2025. It started small with just a few riders but took off fast. The service now covers 173 square miles, hitting spots like Tesla’s Texas factory and the airport.

The company runs a bigger operation in California’s Bay Area, covering around 400 square miles. California makes Tesla put a safety monitor in every car. The state also told Tesla to drop the “Robotaxi” name for Bay Area rides.

Tesla has been busy testing in other cities before going live. People have spotted test cars with LiDAR gear driving around Tempe, Arizona. Those sensors double-check what the car’s cameras are picking up.

Job listings show Tesla wants to start up in Florida and New York pretty soon. Right now the company tests in nine different cities.

CEO Elon Musk wants to get robotaxis to half of America by the end of this year. “We’re getting the regulatory permission to launch in the Bay Area, Nevada, Arizona, Florida, and a number of other places,” Musk said. “As we get the approvals and prove out safety, we will be launching the autonomous ride-hailing across most of the country.”

Tesla’s camera setup costs way less than what competitors use. Companies like Waymo load up their cars with LiDAR and radar that runs about $12,000 per vehicle. Tesla’s cameras cost around $400 per car.

This cheaper approach lets Tesla grow much faster. The company can take regular Model Y cars and turn them into robotaxis. Waymo has to build special cars packed with pricey sensors.

Tesla’s Austin service gives people the full robotaxi experience now. Anyone can grab the app, book a ride, and watch their car come to them on the map. It works just like Uber or Lyft but with no monitor.

There’s a waiting list to get in right now. Tesla still puts safety people in cars for some trips, especially on highways. The company keeps adding new areas and features.

Tesla’s Nevada win gets them closer to robotaxis everywhere. They need more states to approve testing fast and need to show their camera system can handle tricky roads safely.

The way things are moving, robotaxis might hit several new cities before 2025 wraps up. That could completely change how people get around town.

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