Tesla Triumphs with Texas Permit for Statewide Robotaxi Operations
Tesla has reached a significant milestone by securing a transportation network company permit from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. This permit allows the company to operate its Robotaxi service statewide until August 6, 2026. This groundbreaking permit enables Tesla to deploy fully autonomous vehicles without human safety drivers throughout Texas, marking the first such authorization for the company.
The permit is a result of Texas’s new Senate Bill 2807, which came into effect on September 1, 2025. This bill requires autonomous vehicle operators to meet the same standards as traditional ride-hailing services. Tesla has been testing its Robotaxi service in Austin since late June using Model Y vehicles. Initially, these tests involved human supervisors, but the company is now cleared for driverless operations across the entire state.
CEO Elon Musk has expressed optimism that Tesla could serve half the U.S. population with autonomous ride-hailing services by the end of 2025. While currently operational only in parts of Austin at $6.90 per ride, the statewide permit paves the way for expansion to major Texas cities. This includes cities like Dallas and Houston, positioning Tesla to compete directly with Uber and Lyft in the autonomous vehicle market.
Source: CNBC