Tesla received a permit Tuesday from the California Public Utility Commission to operate a state transportation service, the beginning of a long regulation road that would eventually lead to the company getting OK to operate a robotaxi service there.
The permit, that's Tesla applied in November 2024does not cover autonomous vehicle test or deployment. And it is technically different than the permits that hold the Lyft and Uber ride companies.
Tesla has been given a Transportation Charter permit or TCP. A TCP permit means the company-in this case the theme-owned by vehicles and uses employees as drivers, according to the CPUC, that controls human-driven services and no driver rides in the state. A TCP is for companies that want to offer transportation services such as roundtrip travel, according to the Commission.
Uber and Lyft Hold Transportation Network Company (TNC) allows. TNCs use an online -enabled application such as a smartphone app to connect drivers using their personal vehicles with the payment of passengers.
TESLA plans to first use the TCP permit to bring employees on an initial organized basis and automaker-owned vehicles, according to its application. Tesla agreed to inform the CPUC when it moves to bring members of the public.
Importantly, Tesla's application is not looking for participation in the commission's autonomous passenger passenger programs with either a driver or no driver capacity. That does not mean that TESLA will not apply for those permits. If this is done, Tesla will also need to obtain permits from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, the agency that controls autonomous vehicle testing and expansion of the state.
Tesla does not hold authority from DMV to offer any uninhabited ride for testing or expansion purposes, according to state regulators.
Meanwhile, Tesla is planning to launch a Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas. Tesla CEO promised Elon Musk the Robotaxi service Starts in June with its own Armada vehicles equipped with a released “non-supported” version of the whole software that driving itself.
