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2025-07-31 17:19:09
Tesla's Ride-hailing Service Quietly Launches: The Mystery of the "Unmanned" San Francisco Model? ⑴ Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on July 31st (Beijing time) that the company has officially launched its ride-hailing service in the San Francisco Bay Area. ⑵ However, the announcement did not explicitly mention whether the service would utilize the highly anticipated self-driving cars. ⑶ The launch of this service highlights the regulatory challenges Tesla faces in its transition to autonomous driving amidst cooling demand for electric vehicles. ⑷ In California, in particular, strict regulations could delay Musk's goal of deploying robotaxis in half of the country by the end of the year. ⑸ Last week, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) clarified that Tesla currently does not have the authority to "test or transport the public" on public roads with or without a driver. ⑹ Musk posted on social media: "Besides Austin, you can now ride in a Tesla in the San Francisco Bay Area." ⑺ Tesla is reportedly currently only licensed by the California Department of Motor Vehicles to test autonomous vehicles with safety drivers on public roads. ⑻ Tesla has not yet obtained the necessary permits to operate robotaxis and charge fares. ⑼ This limitation means that Tesla can only rely on a human-driven service model in the San Francisco Bay Area. ⑽ This is in stark contrast to the company's more advanced autonomous driving pilot program in Austin, where safety monitors can supervise self-driving Model Y vehicles without active driving intervention. ⑾ Tesla has not yet responded to Reuters' inquiries about the service details.
