On August 9, Tesla obtained a ride-hailing license in Texas, paving the way for the electric vehicle manufacturer to operate its autonomous taxi service under the state's new autonomous vehicle regulations. Tesla Robotaxi LLC has now been listed as a licensed transportation network company by Texas licensing and regulatory authorities, joining companies like Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. This license has become necessary because the new law effective September 1 in the state regulates autonomous ride-hailing services equivalent to those with human drivers. The new policy imposes additional licensing, regulatory, and requirements on autonomous vehicle operators.
Currently, Texas law requires autonomous vehicles to be equipped with cameras, insurance, and the ability to comply with traffic rules. Tesla launched a pilot autonomous ride-hailing service in Austin in June, using a small number of Model Y vehicles with safety supervisors, providing ride services to a limited group of users. (Zhitong Finance)
