LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — You might be seeing a lot more cars on the road in Las Vegas soon — but not a lot of drivers.
On August 20, the Nevada Transportation Authority (NTA) considered applications from Tesla, Waymo, and Aviari "to operate as a Autonomous Vehicle Network Companies in Nevada" during a general session meeting, which the NTA said were unanimously approved.
For the first 12 months of the permit's issuance, Tesla received authorization for 5,000 autonomous vehicles, and Waymo and Aviari received 1,000 each.
They will be able to operate within Clark County, including Harry Reid International Airport. A spokesperson for the NTA shared that the permit did not allow for autonomous vehicles to "service the airport without first obtaining the necessary authorization from the Clark County Department of Aviation."
Under the permit, the NTA shared that participating companies must comply with the following conditions:
- Provide vehicle inspections and documentation
- Maintain required insurance
- Submit rates to the NTA before offering public transportation
- Provide information about customer-facing applications for review
- Comply with accessibility, nondiscrimination, and receipts and reporting requirements
- Report crashes and other events as required by law
- Operate only in the scope of authority granted by the NTA
- Provide first responders with a 24-hour emergency contact
“Nevada has established a regulatory framework for autonomous vehicle network companies that is intended to provide a clear process for innovation while maintaining regulatory oversight. As autonomous vehicle technology continues to develop and these companies scale up their operations, I support the NTA’s commitment to evaluate the existing regulatory framework and make adjustments when appropriate to ensure that the safety of the traveling public remains a central consideration.” — Nevada Department of Business and Industry director Kristopher Sanchez
These three companies must begin operations within 120 days of their permit approval, and cannot offer their services until they meet all requirements by the NTA.
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