Tesla has reached an important milestone on the path to commercializing its autonomous driving services: The company officially received a rideshare license in the US state of Texas. Elon Musk confirmed on X that the robotaxi network will be available to the general public in Austin as early as next month.
Official Approval as a Transportation Provider
Through the newly founded Tesla Robotaxi LLC, the company is now listed as a Transportation Network Company (TNC) with the Texas regulatory authority – in the same category as Uber, Lyft, or Waymo.
The licensing is directly related to a new Texas law that will come into effect on September 1, 2025. This mandates that autonomous ridesharing services are subject to the same rules as those with human drivers.
The requirements include:
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Compliance with all state traffic regulations
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Equipping with recording devices
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Meeting nationwide vehicle safety standards
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Ability to reach a safe minimal state in case of system failure
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Registration, licensing, and insurance according to Texas law
Tesla had already integrated these requirements into the robotaxi network and can start without delay.
Enhanced Technology and App Updates
Since its launch less than two months ago, Tesla has already expanded the service area of the robotaxi service multiple times and continuously improved the app. According to Musk, the FSD system used in the robotaxi is about six months more advanced than the version for customer vehicles – an update that is also expected next month.
Milestones of the robotaxi service:
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Day 1: Launch of the robotaxi and the first app version
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Day 14: Doubling of the service area
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Day 21: Introduction of "Smarter Pickups"
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Day 31: Start of dynamic pricing
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Day 32: Expansion into the Bay Area with safety drivers
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Day 35: Further area expansion in Austin
Opening to All Users Soon
With the launch next month, the service area is expected to grow up to tenfold. At the same time, the robotaxi app is set to officially hit the App Store and no longer be available only via Apple TestFlight for selected iPhone users. An Android version is also anticipated.
Conclusion
With the Texas license and the upcoming public launch in Austin, Tesla is taking the next big step towards a commercial, autonomous ride service. If the rollout goes as planned, this could be the start of a rapid expansion into other U.S. cities.
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