Tesla just took a major step toward launching its autonomous ride-hailing service. The company has secured its first permit in California, bringing its long-awaited robotaxi vision closer to reality. While this doesn’t mean fully driverless Teslas will hit the streets just yet, it’s a key milestone in the approval process.
California Grants Tesla Its First Robotaxi Permit
On Monday, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved Tesla’s charter-party carrier permit, according to Reuters. This allows Tesla to operate a commercial chauffeur fleet for specific purposes, such as transporting employees on pre-arranged routes.
However, this permit doesn’t yet allow Tesla to offer full driverless ride-hailing services to the public. It is simply the first in a series of regulatory steps the company must clear before launching its full robotaxi operation.
Tesla’s Robotaxi Plans Take Shape
Tesla has ambitious plans for autonomous ride-hailing, with initial operations expected in Texas and California later this year. Last October, the company unveiled the Cybercab, a two-seat, steering wheel-free vehicle designed for self-driving taxi services.
Tesla is also developing a ride-hailing app, which was previewed at the October 10 “We, Robot” event. The app would function similarly to Uber or Lyft but with fully autonomous Tesla vehicles.
Regulatory Hurdles Still Remain
Despite this permit, Tesla still needs additional approvals before launching full driverless ride-hailing. The CPUC will work alongside California’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to regulate the company’s autonomous operations.
Elon Musk recently revealed that Tesla employees in the Bay Area are already testing a private ride-hailing service. Using an internal app, they can request rides and travel across the area.
Texas May See Unsupervised Rides First
While California works through regulations, Tesla is moving faster in Texas. The company plans to roll out its first unsupervised rides in Austin this summer, using Full Self-Driving (FSD) software.
Tesla hopes to expand its robotaxi service nationwide by the end of the year. The big question: Which state will be first to see fully autonomous Teslas on the road?
