News: The Boring Company Begins Tesla Full Self-Driving Trials in Las Vegas Tunnels

📅 Published: 8/27/2025
🔄 Updated: 8/27/2025, 8:21:03 PM
📊 15 updates
⏱️ 10 min read
📱 This article updates automatically every 10 minutes with breaking developments

The Boring Company has initiated testing of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software within its tunnel system beneath the Las Vegas Convention Center, marking a significant step in autonomous vehicle trials in a controlled underground environment. These tests began in late 2024 and involve Tesla vehicles operating inside the 3.5-mile-long tunnel network, with safety operators present in the driver’s seat to oversee the process[1][5].

The Las Vegas Convention Center tunnels, operated by The Bor...

The Las Vegas Convention Center tunnels, operated by The Boring Company, serve as a unique testing ground for Tesla’s FSD technology due to their limited entry points and controlled conditions. However, the environment presents challenges such as varied lighting and rock walls, which test the robustness of Tesla’s camera-based autonomous system[1]. So far, the trials have proceeded without any accidents, though human intervention has occasionally been necessary.

The testing aligns with broader plans for the Vegas Loop—an...

The testing aligns with broader plans for the Vegas Loop—an extensive network of tunnels approved by Clark County and the City of Las Vegas to span 68 miles and include over 100 stations, aimed at providing rapid transit across major city points like the airport, stadium, and downtown[4]. The current tunnel section used for these trials connects various key locations including Resorts World and the Convention Center itself.

Despite the progress, full autonomy and widespread deploymen...

Despite the progress, full autonomy and widespread deployment remain distant goals. The Tesla robotaxi service, originally launched in June 2025, has not yet incorporated tunnel operations without safety drivers. Additionally, regulatory approvals for expanding autonomous vehicle use in city-limit tunnels have not been granted. Safety remains a priority for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), which has implemented oversight measures following previous tunnel incidents and is cautious about further expansion without proven safety records[1].

Early public and expert reactions highlight the potential of...

Early public and expert reactions highlight the potential of the Vegas Loop as a fast, convenient transportation alternative, with rides through the tunnels taking just minutes compared to surface traffic. However, skepticism remains regarding the scalability and capacity of the system as it currently operates, given its limited size and the need for more driverless vehicle integration[2][3].

In summary, Tesla’s FSD trials inside The Boring Company’s L...

In summary, Tesla’s FSD trials inside The Boring Company’s Las Vegas tunnels represent a pioneering effort to advance autonomous driving technology within a controlled subterranean setting, with promising early results but ongoing challenges related to safety, technology reliability, and regulatory approval[1][5].

🔄 Updated: 8/27/2025, 6:00:32 PM
The Boring Company has been conducting several months of trials for Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system within its Las Vegas tunnels, which span 68 miles with 104 stations and are designed to significantly cut transit times across the city[2][4]. Experts note that while the tunnels enable rapid travel—2 to 8 minutes between key locations—there remains skepticism about the scalability and practicality of such a low-capacity, tunnel-based autonomous system, with some transit analysts pointing out the challenges of expanding this model beyond its current limits[3]. Industry insiders acknowledge this as a bold experiment in urban transport innovation, with Tesla’s AI being stress-tested in a controlled, subterranean environment to refine FSD capabilities under complex conditions
🔄 Updated: 8/27/2025, 6:10:28 PM
The market reacted mildly to news that The Boring Company has begun Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD) trials in Las Vegas tunnels, with Tesla (TSLA) shares showing only modest movement on August 27, 2025. Despite the testing representing a notable step, investors appeared cautious due to the requirement for safety driver interventions and no clear timeline for full autonomy, reflecting a tempered outlook on near-term impact[1][4]. Steve Hill, CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, emphasized that while testing has been ongoing since late 2024, widespread autonomous use is still “a ways off,” which likely contributed to restrained stock enthusiasm[2].
🔄 Updated: 8/27/2025, 6:20:29 PM
The Boring Company's testing of Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD) in Las Vegas tunnels has drawn mixed reactions from the public, with many noting ongoing challenges despite the controlled environment. Safety drivers still need to take control "periodically" due to difficulties like colorful tunnel lighting and narrow single-lane conditions, leading some to temper expectations despite Elon Musk’s optimism[2][3]. Users who experienced the Loop have found it efficient but are cautiously awaiting fully autonomous rides, reflecting both intrigue and skepticism from consumers[4].
🔄 Updated: 8/27/2025, 6:30:35 PM
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) confirmed that The Boring Company began supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) tests in its 3.5-mile tunnel system beneath the Las Vegas Convention Center at the end of 2024, with safety drivers onboard and no passengers involved. Despite these trials, wide deployment remains "a ways off," with safety drivers still needing to "periodically" intervene, and no accidents reported thus far, according to Steve Hill, CEO of LVCVA. Notably, while the tunnels lie in Clark County, The Boring Company has yet to secure permits to expand tunneling within Las Vegas city limits, highlighting ongoing regulatory hurdles for broader operations[2][3].
🔄 Updated: 8/27/2025, 6:40:40 PM
The Boring Company's trials of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) in Las Vegas tunnels, spanning 3.5 miles beneath the Convention Center, have drawn international attention as a controlled environment pushing autonomous vehicle testing forward. While no accidents have occurred during these tests since late 2024, international experts remain cautiously optimistic given the challenges of camera-based systems navigating tunnel lighting and structures, underscoring global skepticism about the timeline for full autonomy[1][3]. The project exemplifies a cutting-edge, yet scrutinized, step in urban mobility innovation, with potential influence on similar underground transit trials worldwide.
🔄 Updated: 8/27/2025, 6:50:46 PM
Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) software is currently being tested within The Boring Company's controlled 3.5-mile Las Vegas Convention Center tunnel system, with safety operators present but no passengers onboard since late 2024[1]. The tunnel environment provides a unique technical challenge due to limited entry points and complex visual features like colorful lighting and rock walls, which stress-test Tesla’s camera-based autonomy; although no accidents have occurred, human intervention remains necessary[1]. This trial marks a significant step toward integrating FSD technology in closed-loop infrastructures, but full autonomy approval and city-wide tunnel expansion face regulatory and safety hurdles, with proven safety and public trust still required before broader deployment[1].
🔄 Updated: 8/27/2025, 7:00:41 PM
Elon Musk's Boring Company has commenced testing Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology in its 3.5-mile tunnel system beneath the Las Vegas Convention Center, marking a significant step toward autonomous transportation in controlled urban environments[3][5]. While safety drivers still intervene periodically, this development has attracted international attention as a potential model for urban mobility, with global cities watching closely for its scalability and safety outcomes[2]. The project, part of a planned 68-mile tunnel network connecting key Las Vegas sites, is being monitored worldwide as a pioneering test of integrating autonomous vehicles in subterranean transit systems[4].
🔄 Updated: 8/27/2025, 7:10:41 PM
The Boring Company has begun testing Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software in its 3.5-mile single-lane tunnels beneath the Las Vegas Convention Center, with safety operators onboard and no passengers involved so far[2][4]. Despite the controlled tunnel environment—which theoretically simplifies autonomy—the system faces challenges such as colorful tunnel lighting and rough rock walls, causing periodic human intervention during tests[3]. This marks an early technical milestone, though full autonomy in the tunnels remains distant, with no city permits yet for expanding the network and Tesla's role in operations still unclear[2][4].
🔄 Updated: 8/27/2025, 7:20:41 PM
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is prioritizing safety amid the Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD) trials in Boring Company tunnels, appointing oversight staff following previous tunnel incidents and delaying further tunnel expansions due to regulatory concerns. CEO Steve Hill confirmed that while autonomous testing began in late 2024 with safety operators present, no permits have yet been granted for tunnel operations beyond the convention center area, reflecting cautious regulatory scrutiny over the project[1]. This oversight underscores the challenges of proving safety and building public trust before full autonomy and broader tunnel use can be authorized.
🔄 Updated: 8/27/2025, 7:30:48 PM
The Boring Company has initiated testing Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) software in its 3.5-mile single-lane tunnel system beneath the Las Vegas Convention Center, using vehicles equipped with safety drivers but no passengers as of late 2024[2][3]. Despite the controlled tunnel environment—ideal for autonomous driving due to lack of other vehicles and pedestrians—challenges remain from the tunnels' colorful lighting and semi-rough rock walls, causing the system to require periodic manual intervention[2][3]. The ultimate technical goal is high-speed, fully autonomous Tesla vehicles transporting passengers through an expanding network planned to reach 68 miles and 93 stations across Las Vegas, though full deployment remains "a ways off" with ongoing software refinement
🔄 Updated: 8/27/2025, 7:40:53 PM
The Boring Company has started testing Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software in its 3.5-mile tunnel system beneath the Las Vegas Convention Center, with safety drivers onboard and no passengers involved so far[2][4]. While there have been no accidents, safety drivers have had to intervene periodically due to challenges such as colorful tunnel lighting and rock walls affecting the Tesla camera system[3][4]. The system remains “a ways off” from full autonomy, according to Steve Hill, CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, which oversees the tunnels[1][3].
🔄 Updated: 8/27/2025, 7:51:00 PM
Tesla has begun testing its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology in The Boring Company's 3.5-mile tunnel system beneath the Las Vegas Convention Center, using standard consumer FSD software with safety drivers onboard since late 2024[2][4]. Experts, including Steve Hill, CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, note that while the controlled tunnel environment should simplify autonomy, challenges such as colorful lighting and rock walls have required periodic human intervention, indicating full autonomy remains "a ways off"[3]. Industry observers emphasize that despite Elon Musk's ambition for widespread autonomous operation, current testing underscores the gap between Tesla's robotaxi promises and practical tunnel deployment, with no accidents reported but safety drivers still essential[2][
🔄 Updated: 8/27/2025, 8:00:59 PM
The Boring Company has been conducting Full Self-Driving (FSD) trials in its 3.5-mile tunnel system beneath the Las Vegas Convention Center since late 2024, using Tesla vehicles with safety drivers onboard, but full autonomy is still “a ways off” as safety operators have had to periodically intervene[2][3][4]. Despite the controlled, single-lane environment, Tesla’s FSD faces challenges from the colorful tunnel lighting and rock walls, and no passengers have been carried during these tests so far[2][3][4]. The Boring Company operates the vehicles, while Tesla provides the cars and software, with ongoing expansion plans but regulatory permits for city tunneling still pending[2][4].
🔄 Updated: 8/27/2025, 8:10:57 PM
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software is undergoing controlled tests in the Boring Company’s 3.5-mile Las Vegas Convention Center tunnel system, beginning late 2024 with a safety operator on board. The tunnel’s consistent environment aids autonomy development, though Tesla’s camera-based system faces challenges from colorful lighting and rock wall textures. So far, all tests have been accident-free but have required occasional human intervention, highlighting that full autonomy remains a work in progress without regulatory approval for broader tunnel operation[1].
🔄 Updated: 8/27/2025, 8:21:03 PM
Tesla and The Boring Company have been conducting Full Self-Driving (FSD) trials in the 3.5-mile Las Vegas Convention Center tunnel system since late 2024, with safety operators present and no passengers on board[1]. Experts note that the controlled tunnel environment aids autonomous testing, but Tesla’s camera-based system faces challenges from factors like colorful lighting and rock walls, requiring some human intervention[1]. Steve Hill, CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, emphasized that while the tests have been accident-free, full autonomy remains distant due to safety validation and regulatory hurdles[1].
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