Tesla’s robotaxi clears a key hurdle in Nevada

• Tesla has cleared a regulatory hurdle at the DMV in Nevada.

• This means Tesla can deploy an autonomous car, but it still needs commercial approval before rollout.

• Elon Musk wants to expand ride-hailing into up to 10 metropolitan areas by the end of 2025.

Tesla just got one step closer to deploying its robotaxis commercially in Nevada.

Tesla completed the self-certification process for the robotaxi in Nevada, a DMV representative told Business Insider.

This step means the company can deploy an autonomous car on Nevada roads, but it still needs approval from the Nevada Transportation Authority to operate commercially. The NTA has not responded to requests for comment from Business Insider.

Clearing self-certification in Nevada comes as CEO Elon Musk aims to expand ride-hailing in up to 10 metropolitan areas by the end of the year, with a fleet of more than 1,000 vehicles.

“We expect to be operating in Nevada and Florida and Arizona by the end of the year,” Musk said on an October earnings call.

Tesla’s robotaxis are operating commercially in San Francisco and Austin. The company is hiring in cities such as Las Vegas, Dallas, Houston, Tampa, and Orlando, as it ramps up the robotaxi deployment process.

On Monday, Tesla received approval from the Arizona Department of Transportation to operate ride-hailing services in the state. It also submitted a “self-certification” to test its robotaxis in the state with safety drivers, a spokesperson for the department told Business Insider.

Meanwhile, in California, a robotaxi war is breaking out. Uber, Tesla, and Waymo are fighting to shape robotaxi regulations in the state.

Waymo, which operates self-driving taxis in San Francisco and Los Angeles, said in November that companies offering autonomous ride-hailing services should submit quarterly reports about the rides. Tesla opposed this suggestion.

This week, Amazon launched its Zoox robotaxi service in San Francisco, offering select members of the public free rides.

Tesla’s stock price dropped about 2% on Thursday. It’s up more than 15% in the past year.

Read the original article on Business Insider