Overview
- An internal staff memo indicates Tesla will start an invite-only Robotaxi pilot this weekend in the San Francisco Bay Area, charging participating owners per ride.
- The service area spans a defined zone including Marin, much of the East Bay, San Francisco and San Jose.
- Each vehicle will carry a human safety monitor in the driver’s seat with full access to steering and brakes for real-time intervention.
- California regulators have confirmed that Tesla has not applied for the commercial permits required by the DMV and CPUC to transport fare-paying passengers in autonomous vehicles.
- The Bay Area rollout follows June’s Austin trial, which is under NHTSA safety review, and comes as Tesla pursues approvals to expand robotaxis in Nevada, Arizona and Florida.