A Nevada regulatory cap that limited Zoox to 100 robotaxis in the state expired on September 25, enabling the Amazon subsidiary to expand its commercial fleet in Las Vegas amid rising competition.

The Nevada Transportation Authority permit that imposed the 100-vehicle limit was set to expire on that date, according to filings reviewed by TechCrunch. Both an NTA official and a Zoox representative confirmed the change, which was reflected in an updated permit filing.

The removal of the cap does not guarantee an immediate influx of hundreds of vehicles, but it removes a structural constraint that had limited Zoox’s growth. The company currently operates approximately 100 custom-built robotaxis across four U.S. cities, with the majority stationed in Las Vegas and San Francisco. Las Vegas remains the only market where Zoox charges for rides, though it must still secure a separate permit from California regulators to offer paid services there.

Zoox began offering paid robotaxi rides in Las Vegas last month following a temporary exemption from federal motor vehicle safety standards granted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This exemption was essential, as the company’s vehicles are designed without steering wheels, pedals, or other conventional controls required under standard federal regulations. The exemption permits Zoox to deploy up to 2,500 vehicles annually over a two-year period.

A Zoox spokesperson declined to disclose the number of robotaxis currently active in Las Vegas or the scale of planned expansion. Data aggregator Robotaxi Tracker estimates more than 30 of the company’s vehicles are operating in the city. The spokesperson indicated that fleet growth will occur “steadily over the next several months” to meet demand in Las Vegas and other markets.

Zoox will face significant competition regardless of its pace of expansion. In August, the Nevada Transportation Authority approved permits for Tesla, Uber, and Waymo to operate commercial robotaxi services in Clark County, the jurisdiction that includes Las Vegas. Combined, these permits authorize as many as 7,000 robotaxis to operate in the region over the next 12 months.

Waymo launched its robotaxi service in Las Vegas earlier this month, deploying dozens of Ojai minivan-based vehicles within a 23-square-mile zone encompassing the southern Strip and Boulder Junction. The company began offering rides to customers without requiring human supervision.

Zoox’s expansion comes as the autonomous vehicle sector intensifies its race for market share in urban mobility. The company has previously emphasized its focus on ride-hailing integration and safety-driven design, distinguishing its approach from rivals that rely on modified passenger vehicles.

The Nevada regulatory shift reflects a broader trend of state and local authorities reevaluating permitting frameworks for autonomous vehicles as the technology matures and commercial deployment accelerates. While oversight remains stringent, agencies are increasingly balancing innovation with public safety concerns.

Zoox’s path to large-scale operations continues to depend on regulatory approval, technological validation, and consumer adoption. The company has not announced specific timelines for scaling beyond its current footprint, but the expiration of the Nevada cap marks a pivotal milestone in its ability to grow without artificial constraints.