Zoox, the autonomous vehicle company owned by Amazon, is poised to expand its robotaxi fleet in Nevada following the expiration of a regulatory cap limiting the company to 100 vehicles. The Nevada Transportation Authority (NTA) permit imposing this limit is set to expire on September 25, according to an NTA official and a Zoox spokesperson.
This regulatory change removes a significant constraint on Zoox’s operations in Las Vegas, where it currently operates the majority of its roughly 100 custom-built, cube-shaped robotaxis. These vehicles are notable for lacking traditional controls such as steering wheels and pedals. While Zoox operates robotaxis in four U.S. cities, including Austin and Miami, Las Vegas remains the only city where it charges passengers for rides.
Zoox began commercial service in Las Vegas last month after receiving a temporary exemption from certain federal motor vehicle safety standards from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This exemption allows Zoox to deploy up to 2,500 vehicles annually for the next two years, facilitating growth beyond the previous 100-vehicle cap.
Despite the lifted restriction, Zoox has not disclosed specific plans or timelines for fleet expansion in Las Vegas. Industry tracker Robotaxi Tracker estimates that Zoox currently operates more than 30 vehicles in the city. A company spokesperson indicated plans for a steady increase in fleet size to meet demand in Las Vegas and other markets.
Zoox’s expansion comes as competition intensifies in the Las Vegas autonomous ride-hailing market. In August, the NTA approved permits for Tesla, Uber, and Waymo to operate commercial robotaxi services in Clark County, which includes Las Vegas. These permits could introduce up to 7,000 robotaxis in the area within the next year.
Waymo has already launched its commercial robotaxi service in Las Vegas, deploying dozens of its Ojai minivan-style vehicles across a 23-square-mile area that covers the Las Vegas Strip and surrounding neighborhoods. Tesla and Uber are also preparing to enter the market under their newly approved permits.
The expiration of Zoox’s vehicle cap marks a key development in the evolving autonomous vehicle landscape in Las Vegas, potentially accelerating the deployment of driverless ride-hailing services in the city.