Robotaxi regulators say Tesla hasn’t contacted them about plans teased by Musk

103510438 GettyImages 514595244

103510438 GettyImages 514595244

Two California agencies responsible for regulating robotaxis have not been contacted by Tesla regarding their plans for the cars. Last week, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that a new robotaxi product will be revealed in August. However, both the California Department of Motor Vehicles and the California Public Utilities Commission stated that Tesla has not applied for the required permits to operate a driverless car service in the state.

This lack of permits or attempt to acquire them raises questions about how quickly Tesla could launch a robotaxi service. Tesla currently only has the lowest-level permit from the DMV for testing autonomous vehicles with human drivers present, while only three companies have the highest-level permit that allows deployment without human drivers.

California mandates that aspiring robotaxi services must obtain at least two permits, one from the DMV and another from the CPUC. Tesla has not applied for either, indicating a significant hurdle in their path to deployment. The CPUC stated that Tesla would need to follow the same rules as other companies, obtaining DMV approval before seeking a CPUC permit.

While it is unclear if Tesla plans to operate a nationwide robotaxi fleet, it may require authorization from various states. In Arizona, companies like Waymo and Cruise have permits from the state Transportation Department to operate as transportation network companies. As for Nevada, Zoox has authorization to operate a robotaxi service, but Tesla has not submitted paperwork for certification in the state.

Tesla’s approach to self-driving technology differs from companies like Waymo and Cruise, as it has focused less on expensive hardware sensors like LiDAR and has deployed driver assistance systems in stages nationwide. However, Tesla does not currently have publicly released technology for fully autonomous driving, requiring a human driver to be present and ready to take over.

The timeline for Tesla to obtain the necessary permits for a robotaxi service remains uncertain. Tesla has faced challenges with California regulators in the past, including accusations of deceptive practices around the marketing of its driver assistance systems. Despite these obstacles, Tesla fans eagerly anticipate Musk’s upcoming announcement in August, which could shed light on the company’s plans for robotaxis.

Two California agencies responsible for regulating robotaxis, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), have revealed that they have not heard from Tesla regarding its plans for robotaxi cars. This comes despite Tesla CEO Elon Musk announcing last week that the company would be unveiling a new robotaxi product in August. The lack of permits from Tesla to operate driverless cars in California raises concerns about how quickly the company would be able to launch a robotaxi service. Currently, Tesla only has the lowest-level permit from the DMV, which allows them to test autonomous vehicles with human drivers present. To operate driverless vehicles, a higher-level permit would be required, which only three companies currently hold. Additionally, Tesla also does not have a CPUC permit to operate robotaxis as a business, which Waymo, a spinoff of Google, took eight months to obtain.

Furthermore, Tesla’s approach to self-driving technology differs from companies like Waymo and GM’s Cruise, as they have focused less on expensive hardware sensors like LiDAR and have deployed driver assistance systems in stages nationwide. While Tesla does not have publicly released technology for a car to drive without human supervision yet, Musk has hinted at plans for a robotaxi service in the past. However, the timeline for approval for such a service in California remains uncertain. It is possible that Tesla may seek to launch a service in other states or localities, although they would be missing out on a significant market given their high sales volume in California. Musk’s announcement of a Tesla Robotaxi unveil in August has stirred speculation and excitement among Tesla fans and investors, boosting the company’s share price.

In terms of Musk’s previous plans for a robotaxi service, he has discussed launching a fleet of robotaxis using Tesla vehicles that were leased and returned, as well as a service with decentralized ownership where Tesla owners could rent out their cars for fares. However, for Tesla to operate a nationwide robotaxi fleet, authorization from various states and localities would be necessary. Other companies like Waymo and Cruise have obtained permits to operate as “transportation network companies” in states like Arizona and California, but they have faced regulatory challenges as well.

As for Tesla’s relationship with California regulators, the company has faced accusations of engaging in deceptive practices surrounding its marketing of driver assistance systems, including the product name “Full Self-Driving.” An administrative hearing on this matter is scheduled for September. Overall, the lack of permits and regulatory approval in California raises questions about the potential timeline for Tesla to launch a robotaxi service, despite Musk’s promises of an August unveiling.

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