Tesla has reportedly begun to notify robotaxi app users in California’s Bay Area about the upcoming launch of its service, according to a notification screenshot reported by Business Insider.
The notification reads, “If your ride is taking place in California, it is being conducted with a safety driver using Full Self-Driving (Supervised) pursuant to authority from the California Public Utilities Commission,” highlighting the rides outside the state are “conducted autonomously.”
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Despite the advancement, the company has not responded to a request for comment on the matter.
Reuters previously reported that Tesla, unlike Alphabet’s Waymo, lacks the necessary permits to operate autonomous vehicles in the Bay Area and has not applied for them according to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
The service will utilise a variant of Tesla’s supervised Full Self-Driving software, which needs a human driver to remain attentive and ready to intervene.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk mentioned on an earnings call this week that the company was “getting the regulatory permission to launch” robotaxis in various markets, including the San Francisco Bay Area.
The firm informed the CPUC that it plans to offer rides to friends and family of employees and select members of the public under a permit that allows for the transport of passengers in a “traditional vehicle” for “charter services”.
However, Tesla has met with the CPUC but did not apply for additional permits required to charge fares or test with no safety driver.
To progress, Tesla must apply for a CPUC license for an autonomous vehicle to pick up passengers with a safety driver. Before charging customers, companies are required to primarily complete a pilot phase.
In financial news, Tesla reported a 12% year-on-year decrease to $22.49bn in total revenue for the second quarter (Q2) of 2025.
