Elon Musk-owned Tesla is planning to launch its robotaxi service in San Francisco next week, reports Business Insider citing an internal staff memo. As per the report, the EV maker said that its timeline for the launch has been moved up and the service could launch as soon as Friday, i.e. August 1. According to the memo, the geofenced area where Robotaxi service will operate will cover a large part of the Bay Area , including Marin, much of the East Bay, San Francisco, and stretching south to San Jose. Robotaxi service in San Francisco will initially launch with safety drivers in the driver's seat who will be able to control the car using the steering wheel and brakes, the memo said.
A Business Insider report states that the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) records show that Tesla has expanded its autonomous testing activities in the state. As of December, the company registered 224 in-house test drivers and 104 vehicles for testing under its existing permit. The publication reported that the number of workers testing Tesla’s software in California has more than tripled.
Tesla currently holds a permit that allows testing of its self-driving software in California, but only with a safety driver behind the wheel. It remains unclear whether Tesla will need a separate permit to operate its planned robotaxi service with a safety operator present in the vehicle.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has granted Tesla a permit to operate a transportation service for employees. However, as of July 10, Tesla had not applied for the necessary permits to offer a commercial robotaxi service to the general public.
The Business Insider report further stated that DMV has confirmed the EV company has not applied for a permit to test or deploy driverless vehicles in the state. A DMV spokesperson said the agency recently met with Tesla, but the company has not submitted an application for either testing or commercial deployment of fully autonomous vehicles.
Tesla Robotaxi in Austin
Tesla launched its invite-only robotaxi service in Austin, Texas last month with around 10 modified Model Y vehicles operating in a geofenced area. Elon Musk said during Tesla’s Q2 earnings call this week that initial Bay Area operations will also begin with a safety operator in the front seat. The Tesla CEO also added that Tesla plans to launch the Bay Area service within one to two months and is in the process of obtaining the required regulatory approvals.
A Business Insider report states that the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) records show that Tesla has expanded its autonomous testing activities in the state. As of December, the company registered 224 in-house test drivers and 104 vehicles for testing under its existing permit. The publication reported that the number of workers testing Tesla’s software in California has more than tripled.
Tesla currently holds a permit that allows testing of its self-driving software in California, but only with a safety driver behind the wheel. It remains unclear whether Tesla will need a separate permit to operate its planned robotaxi service with a safety operator present in the vehicle.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has granted Tesla a permit to operate a transportation service for employees. However, as of July 10, Tesla had not applied for the necessary permits to offer a commercial robotaxi service to the general public.
The Business Insider report further stated that DMV has confirmed the EV company has not applied for a permit to test or deploy driverless vehicles in the state. A DMV spokesperson said the agency recently met with Tesla, but the company has not submitted an application for either testing or commercial deployment of fully autonomous vehicles.
Tesla Robotaxi in Austin
Tesla launched its invite-only robotaxi service in Austin, Texas last month with around 10 modified Model Y vehicles operating in a geofenced area. Elon Musk said during Tesla’s Q2 earnings call this week that initial Bay Area operations will also begin with a safety operator in the front seat. The Tesla CEO also added that Tesla plans to launch the Bay Area service within one to two months and is in the process of obtaining the required regulatory approvals.
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