According to Mars Finance, on August 9, Tesla has obtained a ride-hailing license in Texas, paving the way for this electric vehicle manufacturer to operate its autonomous taxi service under the state's new regulations on autonomous vehicles. Tesla Robotaxi LLC is now listed as a licensed transportation network company by the Texas licensing and regulatory authorities, joining companies like Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. This license has become necessary as the new law, effective September 1, imposes regulations on autonomous ride-hailing that are equivalent to those for human-driven ride-hailing. The new policy imposes additional licensing, regulation, 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 program for its autonomous ride-hailing service in Austin in June, using a small number of Model Y vehicles equipped with safety monitors to provide ride services to a limited group of users.