Tesla takes key step in robotaxi development
Tesla has made progress in releasing its robotaxi service in California by receiving a new permit allowing it to operate a transportation service in the state—but there are restrictions in place. The EV maker is a long way from seeing its robotaxi fleet on California streets, as the permit doesn’t include self-driving vehicle testing or deployment. Tesla’s new transportation charter permit (TCP) also differs from Uber or Lyft permits, TechCrunch notes. Uber and Lyft have transportation network company (TNC) permits, meaning they can use an online-enabled application, such as a smartphone app in their case, to connect riders with drivers.
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Currently, Tesla can use its TCP, which it applied for in November 2024, to transport its employees as passengers on a pre-arranged basis. Tesla must request permission from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the agency that approved its TCP application, to transport the public, which it hasn’t done yet.
Tesla continues to make big promises, but can it meet them?
The EV manufacturer has remained consistent in their claim that they’ll launch a fully autonomous ridesharing service in Austin, Texas, as early as June 2025 and in California—although the timeline for California is less certain with the state’s increased regulatory hurdles. In California, Tesla needs permits from the CPUC and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to launch its robotaxi service. Texas differs from California because it treats self-driving vehicles like human-operated cars. The Lone Star State allows self-driving vehicle companies to operate their fleets on public roads without special permits as long as they can record crash data. Tesla only has a DMV permit to test autonomous cars in California with a safety driver and has not yet applied for additional permits from the state agency.
Tesla has also promised that its two-seat Cybercab will go into production next year with a real-world range of nearly 300 miles and a yearly production of 2 million units. The Cybercab was revealed in October at a Tesla event called the We, Robot party at Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank, California, where the autonomous vehicle was shown picking up and transporting Tesla CEO Elon Musk to the event’s mainstage. During the We, Robot party, Musk said that Tesla had 20 other Cybercabs manufactured. Musk also used this event to reveal Tesla’s Robovan, which can carry up to 20 people and transport goods. During a Tesla third-quarter earnings call last year, Musk noted that Bay Area, California employees were internally testing a rideshare service using an app to travel anywhere in the city, according to Teslarati.
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Final thoughts
While Tesla’s new TCP from the CPUC is a step in the right direction toward the company’s goals, the EV maker faces a steep climb to catch up to Waymo. Backed by Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., Waymo has driven over 22 million rider-only miles on public roads, and in Austin, Texas, locals can hail a ride from the company via Uber’s app. In addition to Austin, Waymo operates fully self-driving services without a safety driver in Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
