Tesla is preparing to launch its Robotaxi ride-hailing service in the San Francisco Bay Area as early as this weekend, according to a report from Business Insider. The rollout will include safety drivers behind the wheel and builds on the pilot program that began in Austin, Texas, last month, marking another step in Tesla’s push toward autonomous mobility.
The internal memo cited by Business Insider outlines a geofenced area covering San Francisco, Marin County, much of the East Bay, and extending south to San Jose. Invitations to book rides will be sent to a select group of Tesla owners. The service will be conducted with drivers who have full access to the vehicle’s controls while the company continues to seek regulatory approvals for fully autonomous operations.
Currently, Tesla has not obtained the necessary permits for driverless testing or commercial deployment from California’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Both agencies confirmed to Business Insider that Tesla has not submitted the required applications, although the DMV acknowledged recent meetings with the company.
During Tesla’s second-quarter earnings call, CEO Elon Musk confirmed the upcoming Bay Area deployment and clarified that safety drivers would be present at launch. In Austin, Tesla has employed both in-vehicle and remote safety operators. Musk also said Tesla is seeking similar regulatory clearance in states like Florida and Arizona as part of a broader plan to expand the Robotaxi program across the U.S.