Nevada is set to become the epicentre of autonomous taxi technology as Tesla, Uber and Waymo receive permits to operate up to 8,000 robotaxis in Clark County over the next year.

While Tesla’s permit covers a hefty 5,000 vehicles, its engineers are more optimistic about operating around 2,500. Meanwhile, Uber plans on deploying 1,000 along with Motional and Zoox, while Waymo is limited to 1,000.

The rush towards robotaxis has not gone unchallenged. Taxi operators argue that such a large-scale deployment could lead to overcrowded roads and disrupt the local job market.

Uber’s stance? A hybrid model where human drivers co-exist with autonomous vehicles. This approach, they claim, will ease the transition for cities as robotaxis gradually join the ride-hailing network.