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| Tesla secured a permit that allows the company to operate a ride-hailing service with autonomous vehicles in Texas. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via Getty Images |
Tesla has cleared a major hurdle in its push to launch a commercial ride-hailing service powered by self-driving technology. The electric vehicle maker’s newly formed subsidiary, Tesla Robotaxi LLC, has been granted a permit to operate automated ride-hailing services across Texas, according to records from the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation (TDLR).
The permit, issued on Wednesday, allows Tesla to use automated motor vehicles to carry passengers for pay throughout the state. It will remain valid for one year. Tela Mange, a spokesperson for TDLR, confirmed to Local press that the license falls under Texas’ rules for ride-hailing services, not a full classification as an autonomous vehicle.
That distinction matters. While Tesla can legally run a ride-hailing service with automated vehicles, it must still obtain separate authorization from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to be formally recognized as an autonomous vehicle operator. That process requires meeting specific safety and compliance criteria under the state’s new legislation.
A New Statewide Framework for Driverless Vehicles
The DMV authorization requirement stems from Senate Bill 2807 (SB 2807), which takes effect on September 1. The bill creates Texas’ first comprehensive statewide framework for regulating commercial autonomous vehicle services.
Under the new law, companies seeking to operate fully driverless vehicles must:
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Secure DMV authorization before deployment.
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Comply with all federal motor vehicle safety standards.
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Equip vehicles with a data recording device to capture operational information.
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Meet additional operational and reporting requirements to ensure safety and accountability.
The TDLR’s role is narrower — it oversees rules for ride-hailing operations in general, whether human-driven or automated, while the DMV will enforce autonomous-specific standards.
Political Pressure to Delay the Launch
Tesla’s Texas permit comes amid mounting political scrutiny over the rapid rollout of autonomous vehicles. In June, just weeks before the company’s highly anticipated robotaxi unveiling, seven Democratic state lawmakers signed a letter urging Tesla to delay its Texas launch until SB 2807 went into effect or to provide a detailed compliance plan.
Tesla pressed forward anyway, arguing that because the law had not yet taken effect, it could proceed under existing ride-hailing regulations.
Texas: Ground Zero for the Robotaxi Race
The Lone Star State is quickly emerging as a battleground for the autonomous ride-hailing industry. Compared with California, where operators like Waymo and Cruise face stricter oversight and slower approval timelines, Texas offers a more permissive legal environment — at least for now.
That has attracted a wave of interest from technology and mobility companies. Alphabet’s Waymo, for instance, has expanded its driverless testing and pilot programs in Texas, and other AV startups are eyeing the market.
Tesla has already tested its robotaxi service in the San Francisco Bay Area, where regulations require a human safety driver to remain behind the wheel until official approval is granted. The Texas launch could give the company a head start in one of the country’s most business-friendly states for emerging transportation technologies.
What’s Next for Tesla Robotaxi
While the Texas permit is a step forward, Tesla’s robotaxi service still faces regulatory checkpoints before it can operate without a human in the driver’s seat. Gaining DMV authorization under SB 2807 will be critical if the company wants to run a fully autonomous service statewide.
If successful, Tesla could position Texas as a central hub for its driverless ride-hailing ambitions, potentially scaling to other states as regulations evolve. But with lawmakers watching closely and a patchwork of local, state, and federal rules still taking shape, the road to a nationwide robotaxi network remains long and uncertain.
