Tesla Yet to Seek Key Permits for Driverless Robotaxi Service in California, Records Show

Elon Musk's ambitious plans to deploy Tesla's Robotaxi service in California have encountered a significant regulatory hurdle, as the company has not applied for the necessary permits to advance toward fully driverless operations. According to recent reports from state records and officials, Tesla failed to take any steps in 2025 to secure additional approvals from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), despite repeated public statements from Musk suggesting a launch was imminent pending regulatory clearance. This inaction has stalled progress in the state's largest auto market, where Tesla's valuation heavily relies on expectations for widespread autonomous ride-hailing.

Tesla currently holds only an entry-level DMV permit, which permits testing of autonomous vehicles but requires a human safety driver to remain in the vehicle at all times. To move toward unsupervised driverless testing and eventual commercial robotaxi deployment—similar to competitors like Waymo—Tesla would need to obtain higher-tier permits from both the DMV and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which oversees ride-hailing services. Proposed DMV regulations, expected to be finalized later in 2026, would require at least 50,000 miles of supervised autonomous driving on public roads before companies can apply for driverless testing permits. Tesla has not met this threshold, having logged zero autonomous test miles in California during 2025—the sixth consecutive year without reported activity—and only 562 miles total since 2016.

The discrepancy highlights a pattern where Musk has touted imminent Robotaxi availability in California, including expansions in the San Francisco Bay Area, while the company has not pursued the required documentation or testing mileage. State officials, including a DMV spokesperson, confirmed that Tesla has submitted no applications for additional permits beyond its basic authorization. This contrasts with rivals like Waymo, which have diligently accumulated extensive supervised miles and secured phased approvals over years to operate fully autonomous fleets. Experts note that regulators appear prepared to process applications, but Tesla's lack of engagement has positioned the state as a perceived barrier rather than the actual cause of delay.

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The situation underscores ongoing challenges for Tesla's autonomous ambitions, including scrutiny over its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, recent legal battles with the DMV over marketing claims, and a focus on other markets like Texas where requirements are less stringent. In California, Tesla's current ride-hailing efforts involve human-driven vehicles using supervised FSD, but true Robotaxi operations—without drivers and charging passengers—remain out of reach without further regulatory steps. Musk has previously expressed optimism about approvals, stating he would be "shocked" if they did not materialize, yet the absence of applications suggests internal priorities or strategic choices may be contributing to the stall.

As 2026 progresses and proposed rules take effect, Tesla faces pressure to demonstrate concrete progress through testing and permit pursuits if it intends to compete in California's ride-hailing landscape. The episode reinforces the rigorous, mileage-based pathway California has established for autonomous vehicle deployment, prioritizing safety data over promotional timelines. Without renewed efforts, Tesla's Robotaxi vision in the state risks further postponement, impacting investor expectations tied to its autonomous future.

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