Tesla Inc. has been granted a rideshare license in Texas, paving th
e way for the electric-vehicle maker to operate its robotaxi service under
new regulations governing autonomous vehicles in the state.
Tesla Robotaxi LLC is now listed as a transportation
network company licensee with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, joining others including Ub
er Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. The license recently became necessa
ry under a new state law that takes effect Sept. 1 that regulates ri
deshare operations using autonomous vehicles the
same as those services using human drivers.
The new policy adds additional permitting, oversight and req
uirements for operators of autonomous vehicles. Currently, autonomous
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vehicles in Texas must be equipped with cameras, insurance and be able to follow traffic laws.
Tesla in June began operating an autonomous rideshare servi
ce in Austin with a small number of Model Y vehicles that are supervised
by safety monitors, offering rides to a small group of users.
Bloomberg: A vehicle Tesla is using for robotaxi testing purpose
s on Oltorf Street in Austin, Texas, US, on Sunday, June 22, 2025. The launch of Tesla Inc.’s driverless taxi service
Sunday is set to begin modestly, with a handful of vehicles in limited areas of the city.