Tesla gets approval to operate robotaxis in California

Photo : Reuters

Tesla has moved closer to starting its robotaxi service in California. On Tuesday, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) gave the company its first approval. This is an important step for Tesla to run self-driving taxis in the state.

The CPUC gave Tesla a transportation charter-party carrier permit (TCP). This license is usually given to companies that offer chauffeur-driven services. It allows Tesla to own and manage a group of cars and transport its workers on pre-arranged trips. However, this permit does not let Tesla offer robotaxi rides to the public yet. A CPUC official said the permit is just the first step, and Tesla needs more approvals to start a driverless taxi service.

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To legally run a robotaxi service in California, Tesla still needs permits from both the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the CPUC. Right now, Tesla only has a DMV permit that allows it to test self-driving cars with a safety driver. The DMV said on Tuesday that Tesla has not applied for the extra permits it needs to offer rides to the public in driverless cars.

Tesla applied for the TCP permit in November 2024, but it has not yet asked for the other needed permits. Despite this, Elon Musk, the company’s CEO, is pushing ahead with his robotaxi plans. With Tesla’s car sales slowing down, Musk has turned his attention to self-driving technology. He has promised to launch a driverless ride service in California and Texas sometime in 2025.

In October 2024, Tesla showed off a new robotaxi model called the Cybercab. The car has no steering wheel or pedals and was introduced as part of Tesla’s plan for its future taxi service. However, before the Cybercab or any robotaxi can hit the streets, Tesla must still get all the required permits.

When asked for comments, Tesla did not respond about the new permit or its next steps.

For now, the TCP permit is a small but important step. However, Tesla still has more work to do before its robotaxis can start giving rides to people in California.