Elon Musk’s Boring Company has unveiled exciting developments regarding the forthcoming underground Vegas Loop transportation system, highlighting the upcoming launch of new tunnels, an expansion of their vehicle fleet, and the anticipated use of Tesla Robovans once the complete station construction is finalized.
The organization plans to increase its Tesla vehicle fleet for the Vegas Loop service, expanding from the current 130 vehicles to 160 when new tunnels become operational, with projections soaring to between 250 and 300 vehicles following the airport corridor extension.
This fleet expansion is part of a four-phase strategy associated with Harry Reid International Airport and the comprehensive Vegas Loop expansion, which aims to develop 68 miles of tunnels encompassing 104 stations throughout the Strip, downtown Las Vegas, and other key locations.
Boring Company President Steve Davis stated that Phase 1 of the airport transit service commenced last month, facilitating transport between the airport and existing stations at Resorts World, Encore, Westgate, and the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Recently, the Boring Company initiated services for airport passengers after modifying 100 of its 130-car Tesla fleet with the transponders mandated by the airport for transportation providers. “We’re currently testing the system,” Davis mentioned. “We are conducting 50 rides daily.”
Passengers traveling from the airport navigate through the existing tunnels before completing the last segment above ground on surface streets. A 2.25-mile Airport Connector tunnel is expected to launch either later this month or early next, although this route would still surface near the airport for approximately a one-mile drive to the terminals. Davis described the airport station as the long-term “Holy Grail,” with no specific timeline provided.
Phase 2 encompasses a 2.2-mile dual-direction tunnel linking Westgate to a future station at 4744 Paradise Road. From there, vehicles will proceed above ground to the airport via Paradise Road and University Center Drive, eliminating two miles of current above-ground travel. Davis anticipates this phase to be operational within the next few months with a speed limit of 60 mph on University Center Loop, up from the previous 35 mph limit in the convention center area. Fleet numbers will rise to 160 vehicles once the new tunnels are operational.
Phase 3 will extend the tunnel to a planned station at 5032 Palo Verde Road, close to Terminal 1, bypassing the lengthy wait at the stoplight at Tropicana Avenue and University Center Drive. Additional stations are planned along the University Center loop, including sites at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, a future Boring Company-owned apartment complex, and the past locations of Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant and Firefly on Paradise. The fleet is projected to grow to between 250 and 300 Teslas.
Davis noted that the project requires over 600 building permits. He explained that approvals from Clark County typically take around six months, with the Boring Company acquiring a new permit every week or two. He likened the permitting process to SpaceX’s FAA licensing procedure, revealing that SpaceX completed 150 launches in 2025.
He projected that the first permit approval from the City of Las Vegas could be granted next week, allowing construction to proceed north of Sahara Avenue towards the Strat, with plans for future expansions to Fremont Street and Circa’s Garage Mahal. Given the current timeline for permits, he estimated work on the Strip could begin in the fall and wrap up by 2027, while areas like downtown, Chinatown, Allegiant Stadium, and regions south of the Strip may be completed by 2028 or 2029.
Once fully operational, Davis indicated the fleet might expand to 1,200 vehicles, incorporating the higher-capacity Tesla Robovan specifically for larger events. “The moment you have four passengers and need to start stopping, it’s best to utilize the smallest vehicle, which is a car,” Davis explained. Musk presented the Robovan at Tesla’s “We, Robot” event in Los Angeles in October 2024, stating, “We aim to transform the appearance of our roads. The future must reflect the future.”
Davis also mentioned that Boring Company plans to explore one-mile demonstration tunnels in Henderson and Summerlin post-construction and expressed aspirations for a hyperloop extending to Reno and Phoenix: “I think it would be incredibly exciting.” Virgin Hyperloop One conducted tests at a site in North Las Vegas from 2017 until operations halted in 2023.