Tesla has received the first of several approvals needed to eventually launch a robotaxi service in California, according to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
The CPUC granted Tesla a transportation charter-party carrier (TCP) permit, typically issued for chauffeur-driven services, allowing the company to own and manage a vehicle fleet and transport employees on pre-arranged trips, reports Reuters.
However, the permit does not authorize Tesla to offer autonomous rides to the public or operate a ride-hailing service, a CPUC spokesperson clarified. The approval is a prerequisite for applying to run an autonomous ride-hailing service in the state.
With sales growth slowing, Tesla CEO Elon Musk pivoted his focus last year to rolling out robotaxis and has promised driverless ride-hailing services to the public in California and Texas this year. In October, Tesla revealed the Cybercab, a robotaxi concept that had no steering wheel or control pedals.
Tesla had applied for the TCP permit in November 2024, the regulator said in an email, adding that the company had not applied for the other permits yet.
Tesla would also need permits from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and CPUC in order to operate a fully autonomous robotaxi service that charges customers.
Tesla currently only has a DMV permit to test autonomous vehicles with a safety driver.
A DMV spokesperson said on Tuesday that Tesla has not applied for any additional permits from the agency, which would be required to move forward with a CPUC application for driverless taxis.
Bd-pratidin English/FNC
