Overview

• The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation issued a statewide TNC permit to Tesla Robotaxi LLC, valid through August 6, 2026, authorizing driverless operations without onboard safety monitors.
• Elon Musk announced on August 11 that Tesla’s robotaxi service will open to general public next month, marking a shift from invitation-only pilot programs.
• Tesla has expanded its geofenced pilot area in Austin twice and initiated a supervised rollout in the San Francisco Bay Area while awaiting California approvals.
• Federal and state agencies, including NHTSA and California regulators, are reviewing safety data and investigating early erratic driving reports amid ongoing lawsuits.
• The permit precedes a Texas law effective September 1 that standardizes autonomous ride-hailing requirements and comes as Tesla seeks similar permissions in other states against competition from Waymo and Uber partnerships.