California

California Permit Lets Tesla Carry Passengers, Putting It on the Road to Robotaxis

Tesla CEO Elon Musk described the initial service as a combination of Airbnb and Uber.
California Permit Lets Tesla Carry Passengers, Putting It on the Road to Robotaxis
Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk speaks during a media tour of the Tesla Gigafactory in Sparks, Nev., on July 26, 2016. James Glover II/Reuters
Jill McLaughlin
|Updated:
0:00
With hopes of providing a robotaxi service in California this year, Tesla has secured its first permit from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to carry passengers, officials confirmed March 20.

The electric vehicle company applied for the transportation charter-party carrier permit, a license usually secured for chauffeur-operated services, in November, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) reported Thursday.

Jill McLaughlin
Jill McLaughlin
Author
Jill McLaughlin is an award-winning journalist covering politics, environment, and statewide issues. She has been a reporter and editor for newspapers in Oregon, Nevada, and New Mexico. Jill was born in Yosemite National Park and enjoys the majestic outdoors, traveling, golfing, and hiking.