Texas grants Tesla authority for statewide robotaxi operation, excluding human drivers
Tesla's Autonomous Robotaxi Service Expands Across Texas
Tesla's autonomous Robotaxi service, first introduced in Austin in late June, has received statewide authorization to operate as a commercial ride-hailing service. The service, which uses fully driverless Model Y vehicles equipped with the company's Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, is now covered under Texas' new autonomous vehicle law, Senate Bill 2807.
The law, which took effect on September 1, 2022, sets specific requirements for Tesla's Robotaxi service. The vehicles must have Level 4 or Level 5 autonomy, meaning they can operate without human intervention under specific conditions.
To operate as a licensed Transportation Network Company (TNC), Tesla's Robotaxi LLC was required to obtain a permit from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). The permit, which is valid until August 6, 2026, allows Tesla to expand from an initial Austin pilot to operate across Texas.
The law also mandates mandatory insurance coverage and data reporting to ensure safety compliance. Despite the permit for autonomous ride-hailing, Tesla must still seek official authorization from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for the Robotaxi vehicles to be classified formally as autonomous vehicles.
Initially, rides were offered by invitation only to a select group of riders, and were supervised by a human safety operator in the front passenger seat. However, Tesla's permit allows operation of fully driverless vehicles without a human safety driver onboard, although the timing of fully autonomous rides statewide has not been disclosed.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk believes Tesla's autonomous ride-hailing service could reach half of the U.S. population by the end of 2025. The expansion of Tesla's Robotaxi service across Texas is a significant step towards achieving this goal.
The new statewide TNC license removes the requirement for an onboard safety operator, aligning Texas with a growing number of states developing oversight frameworks for commercial driverless vehicle services. This move is expected to accelerate the growth of autonomous vehicles in Texas and contribute to the state's economy.
With the expansion of its Robotaxi service, Tesla is set to revolutionize the transportation industry in Texas. The service is set to open to the general public next month, offering a safer, more efficient, and convenient mode of transportation to Texans.
[1] Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) [2] Texas Senate Bill 2807 [3] Tesla's Robotaxi service in Austin [4] Tesla's Autonomous Ride-Hailing Service [5] Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
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