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Tesla receive a permit Tuesday from the California Public Utilities Commission ( CPUC ) to operate a fare service in the state , the kickoff of a long regulatory road that could eventually lead to the company bewilder the Oklahoma to maneuver a robotaxi service there .

The license , whichTesla applied for in November 2024 , does n’t cross autonomous vehicle testing or deployment . And it ’s technically dissimilar than the permits that drive - hailing companies Lyft and Uber possess .

Tesla was granted atransportation charter permit , or TCP . A TCP means the society — in this case Tesla — possess the vehicle and uses employees as gadget driver , according to the CPUC , which influence human being - driven and driverless ride - hailing services in the state . A TCP is for companies that need to offer prearranged transportation service like roundtrip sightseeing , according to the commission .

Uber and Lyft hold transferral web ship’s company ( TNC ) permits . TNCs use an online - enabled software program like a smartphone app to link drivers using their personal vehicles with yield passengers .

Tesla project to initially use its TCP permit to channelize employees on a prearranged basis and in vehicles owned by the automaker , according to its program . Tesla has agreed to notify the CPUC when it transition to enrapture member of the world .

Importantly , Tesla ’s app program does n’t seek participation in the direction ’s Autonomous Vehicle Passenger Service Programs in either a drivered or driverless capacity . That does n’t signify Tesla wo n’t eventually employ for those permits . If it does , Tesla will also need to prevail licence from the California Department of Motor Vehicles , the agency that regulates sovereign vehicle testing and deployment in the nation .

Tesla does not own potency from the DMV to offer any driverless rides for examination or deployment purpose , accord to body politic regulators .

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Tesla meanwhile is planning to launch a robotaxi servicing in Austin , Texas . Tesla CEO Elon Musk has promised therobotaxi servicewill begin in June using its own fleet vehicles that are equipped with the yet - to - be - discharge “ unsupervised ” version of its Full Self - Driving software .