Tesla has received permission to operate its ride-hailing service in Arizona. But don’t get too excited, as it’s a far cry from the Level 4 autonomy that CEO Elon Musk envisions for the company’s robotaxis. Certification requires a human to sit in the front seat to monitor the ride. Austin and California have similar requirements for Teslas to operate.
reuters It was reported that Tesla had applied for the permit on November 13 and got approval on Monday. In September, the automaker received certification to begin testing autonomous vehicles (with safety monitors) in Arizona. The new permit allows those vehicles to carry paying passengers.
In Tesla’s quarterly earnings call last month, Elon Musk said the company’s “robotaxis” would operate in eight to 10 metro areas by the end of 2025. However, that term is used loosely. For now, the service is a far cry from the kind of “robot driver” you get at Waymo. Think of a plain old Uber, except that the driver or safety operator is using a version of Tesla’s full self-driving software, which has been the subject of numerous safety complaints.