Overview

• Arizona’s Department of Transportation confirmed it acknowledged Tesla’s self-certification, allowing public-road trials in the Phoenix metro with onboard safety drivers.
• The authorization limits operation to trained employees, contractors or other approved personnel and requires compliance with federal and state safety, licensing and insurance rules.
• The approval covers testing only, and any ride-hailing service or driverless operation would require separate transportation network company or other permits.
• Arizona becomes another testing hub for Tesla alongside Austin, the San Francisco Bay Area, Miami and Nevada, placing it in direct competition with Waymo, Aurora, Nuro, Cruise and Pony.ai already active in the state.
• The regulatory backdrop remains fluid, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy signaling eased NHTSA rules even as other officials and lawmakers push for tighter oversight.