Tesla is launching a more limited version of its early robotaxi service in San Francisco this weekend, following an initial rollout in Austin, Texas last month. The company will offer rides with a driver in the seat, as it lacks the necessary permits for driverless testing or deployment in California, according to state DMV records.
It remains unclear whether Tesla has secured a permit from California’s Public Utilities Commission to provide rides to the public. Currently, the service is restricted to employees. Business Insider reports that Tesla plans to invite select owners to test the service, while CEO Elon Musk stated the company is working on obtaining regulatory approval in California.
This expansion comes as the California DMV seeks to block Tesla from selling vehicles in the state amid an ongoing lawsuit over claims about its cars’ self-driving capabilities. Tesla is also facing a trial related to deaths involving its Autopilot driver assistance system.
Since June 22, Tesla has operated an invite-only robotaxi service in Austin, though it falls short of Musk’s long-promised vision. The service is confined to downtown Austin and major corridors, with a safety operator in the passenger seat ready to intervene if needed. While the launch involved around 10 vehicles, the exact number of Model Y SUVs in operation and the frequency of safety interventions remain unknown.
Musk once claimed Tesla was developing a “general solution” for autonomous driving, even predicting a coast-to-coast demonstration that never materialized. The company is now working to expand its robotaxi service to Florida and Arizona. TechCrunch reported earlier this month that Tesla has begun certification processes in Arizona for testing with and without drivers.