Tesla builds 36,000-sq-ft car wash in Las Vegas

Tesla has started building out a dedicated vehicle-wash and service site in Las Vegas that appears aimed at supporting its planned robotaxi operations there. A Clark County permit filed on May 12 describes a project called “Tesla Center Mohawk Cybercab Phase 2 Car Wash” at 6170 Mohawk St., according to permit details published by Not a Tesla App. The filing covers interior and exterior work at an existing facility, including a car-wash enclosure, relocated tire-service equipment and new power raceways. Tesla has not publicly announced the project or responded publicly to questions about the Las Vegas site. ### Where did this report come from? Not a Tesla App reported the project on May 14 after citing Clark County permit filings and images tied to the Mohawk Street property. The outlet said the site is already built and estimated the facility at about 36,000 square feet with roughly 55 parking spaces based on satellite imagery. (notateslaapp.com) Clark County’s Citizen Access portal confirms the county runs an online system that allows the public to search permit and application records, though the portal excerpt available here does not itself display the Mohawk filing details. The project description circulating in Tesla-focused coverage is therefore based on permit information reported from that county system. (notateslaapp.com) ### What exactly is in the permit? The May 12 filing describes “interior and exterior improvements to an existing facility,” according to the published permit text. The listed work includes construction of an interior wall and ceiling enclosure for an interior car wash, utilities brought to car-wash connection points and final connections by a general contractor. (aca-prod.accela.com) The same filing also calls for relocation of existing tire racks and tire-service equipment, installation of power raceways and air cord reels in cleaning bays, removal of four existing fleet stalls and an extension of a door landing to provide an accessible sidewalk connection at the west main door. Those details point to a site designed for more than a basic wash line, though Tesla has not described the facility’s intended operating model. (notateslaapp.com) ### Why does Las Vegas matter to Tesla’s robotaxi plans? Nevada cleared Tesla to test autonomous vehicles in the state in September 2025, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported, citing Nevada DMV spokeswoman Hailey Foster. Foster told the newspaper at the time that Tesla was “currently cleared to test autonomous vehicles in Nevada,” while adding that no robotaxi service was yet operating. (notateslaapp.com) The Nevada DMV says manufacturers and developers may submit an Autonomous Vehicle Testing Registry application for testing and a separate certification packet for operation and registration of autonomous vehicles. The state’s public guidance says a Certificate of Compliance for operations is issued once the packet is reviewed and requirements are met. ### Is Tesla already running robotaxis with Cybercabs? (reviewjournal.com) Tesla’s current robotaxi page says autonomous rides are being offered with Model Y vehicles in Austin, Dallas and Houston, Texas. The same page says the Cybercab, which Tesla describes as its purpose-built fully autonomous vehicle, will offer rides in the future. Tesla’s investor materials and careers pages show the company is still preparing Cybercab-related production in Texas. (dmv.nv.gov) A recent Tesla filing said the company continued progress on installation of Cybercab lines in Texas, and Tesla job listings have advertised production roles tied to Cybercab components in Austin. ### What approvals are still missing in Nevada? (tesla.com) The Nevada Transportation Authority publishes an application for a permit to act as an Autonomous Vehicle Network Company, or AVNC, under NRS 706B.120. That application is the state pathway for a company seeking authority to use fully autonomous vehicles in a commercial network. The Review-Journal reported in September 2025 that Tesla would still need AVNC certification from the Nevada Transportation Authority before launching robotaxi service in Las Vegas. (ir.tesla.com) As of May 15, 2026, Nevada’s public transportation authority materials still show the AVNC application process, and Tesla has not publicly said it has launched a commercial autonomous ride-hailing service in Nevada. (nta.nv.gov) ### What comes next at the Mohawk Street site? The Mohawk Street project is still best understood as an infrastructure build-out rather than a public launch. The next visible milestones are likely to come through Clark County permit updates, any Tesla comment on the 6170 Mohawk St. facility, and any Nevada Transportation Authority filing if Tesla moves toward commercial robotaxi service in Las Vegas. (notateslaapp.com) (reviewjournal.com)