Tesla is preparing to roll out its Robotaxi service in the San Francisco Bay Area as early as this weekend, according to an internal company memo. The expansion follows the pilot launch of the service in Austin, Texas, last month and marks a significant step toward Tesla’s goal of creating a fully autonomous ride-hailing network.
The upcoming launch, first reported by Business Insider, will initially include safety drivers seated behind the wheel, with full access to the steering and braking systems. This move allows Tesla to begin testing its Robotaxi service with paying passengers while awaiting regulatory approval for fully driverless operations.
Selected Tesla owners will receive invitations to book rides, which will operate within a large geofenced zone that includes San Francisco, Marin County, much of the East Bay, and stretches south to San Jose.
Despite the upcoming rollout, Tesla has not yet secured a permit for driverless testing or commercial operations from California regulators. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) confirmed that while the agency recently met with Tesla, the company has not applied for the permits required to offer a fully autonomous ride-hailing service.
Similarly, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which oversees passenger transport services, has not yet issued Tesla a commercial operating license.
Elon Musk addressed the service’s status during Tesla’s Q2 earnings call earlier this week, confirming that the Bay Area deployment will begin with safety operators in the driver’s seat. In Austin, Tesla currently uses Safety Operators in the passenger seat, alongside remote operators who can intervene when necessary.
Musk also noted that the company is pursuing regulatory approval in other states, including Florida and Arizona, as part of a broader strategy to expand the Robotaxi program nationwide.
While Tesla has not commented publicly on the San Francisco rollout, Musk has previously suggested that the company aims to have Robotaxis operating in several major U.S. cities within the next year.
