Tesla has officially secured approval from the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) to operate a paid Robotaxi service on public roads throughout the state.
The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) confirmed in an email that Tesla filed its application for a Transportation Network Company (TNC) permit on November 13, and after reviewing the submission, the agency approved the company to operate as a certified TNC on November 17. (via Sawyer Merritt)
Unlike some jurisdictions where commercial autonomous vehicle (AV) operations are restricted to specific cities, Arizona’s TNC framework applies statewide, meaning Tesla’s Robotaxi service can legally operate in Phoenix, Tucson, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, and any other Arizona municipality without seeking additional local approvals.
The approval moves Tesla beyond its testing phase—approved in September—and into full commercial deployment, opening the door to autonomous ride-hailing in one of the most AV-friendly regions in the U.S.
Unlike the test permit, which required a human in the driver’s seat, the TNC approval allows Tesla to operate paid, fully-autonomous rides, provided the vehicle meets the safety, insurance, and operational requirements under Arizona law. However, Tesla will likely initially launch the service with Safety Operators in the vehicle.
Tesla hasn’t yet announced when the service will officially launch, but with the TNC permit now active, the company is legally cleared to flip the switch at any time. Based on information shared during the annual shareholder meeting earlier this month, Phoenix should be the first area within Arizona to see the service launch.
