Tesla plans 'friends and family' car service in California, regulator says

Core Viewpoint - Tesla is facing regulatory challenges in California regarding its robotaxi service, which limits its ability to operate autonomous vehicles for passenger transport on public roads [1][2][4]. Regulatory Environment - The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has stated that Tesla is not authorized to transport the public in autonomous vehicles, requiring a human driver at all times [2]. - Tesla can operate a private car service with human drivers under a charter-party carrier permit, similar to limousine services, but this service must not involve autonomous vehicles [3][4]. Current Operations - Tesla is testing its robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, using Model Y SUVs equipped with the latest automated driving technology, but the service is limited to daylight hours and good weather conditions [5]. - The Austin robotaxi service is remotely supervised by Tesla employees and includes a human safety supervisor in the front passenger seat, currently limited to invited users under an "early access program" [6].