Why Tesla’s Ambitious Robotaxi Plan for San Francisco Faces Major Hurdles

Tesla is set to launch an exclusive version of its robotaxi service in San Francisco this weekend. This follows an initial rollout in Austin, Texas, last month. Tesla will invite select owners to test the service.

However, there are concerns about whether Tesla is following California’s regulations. The state has strict rules that govern autonomous vehicles. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires permits for three stages: testing with a driver, testing without a driver, and fully autonomous deployment.

Currently, Tesla only has a permit for testing vehicles with a human driver. It lacks the necessary permits for driverless operation. Other companies, like Waymo and Mercedes-Benz, have secured permits for driverless services, highlighting Tesla’s gap in compliance.

Additionally, Tesla doesn’t hold the required permits from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for commercial passenger transport. A CPUC spokesperson explained that Tesla holds a permit for traditional, human-driven transportation but lacks the authorizations needed for autonomous services.

This means that if Tesla rolls out its robotaxis, it might violate state rules, even with a human operator present during rides.

Adding to the scrutiny, the DMV is pursuing action against Tesla to suspend its vehicle sales in California due to claims about misleading statements regarding self-driving capabilities. This comes amid a lawsuit related to accidents involving Tesla’s Autopilot system.

While the robotaxi service in Austin operates with some safety measures—like having an operator in the front seat—it’s still far from the advanced system many expected. Tesla started with about ten vehicles, but it’s unclear how many are currently in use or how often operators need to step in.

Elon Musk had promised a future where Tesla vehicles would drive from coast to coast, but reality shows a different picture. Recently, the company has expressed intentions to expand to Florida and Arizona. In Arizona, Tesla has reportedly started the certification process necessary for both driverless and driver-assisted testing.

As the debate over Tesla’s approach continues, the company’s next steps will be closely watched.

For further details on incident reports and regulation updates, visit the California DMV website.

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