Tesla has inquired with San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland airports about acquiring permits to operate a ride-hailing service at each location, according to Politico.
The inquiries coincided with the launch of a nascent charter service in California in late July. Representatives from San Francisco and Oakland airports told Politico they had been contacted but had not yet met with Tesla. San Jose airport confirmed no formal permit application had been submitted, though Tesla had asked about the process.
Tesla currently operates only a limited charter service in California, which does not require full ride-hailing permits and is not approved for autonomous vehicle operations. Videos of the rides, however, show drivers using Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software, an advanced driver-assistance system requiring active driver supervision.
To expand into a larger ride-hail network in California, Tesla would need a permit from the California Public Utilities Commission, and if autonomous vehicles are included, approval from the Department of Motor Vehicles. The DMV has also raised concerns over Tesla’s self-driving claims and is attempting to restrict sales in the state.
Airports have historically been cautious in granting access to new transportation services. Companies including Waymo have sought airport partnerships in recent years, citing strong demand for shuttle services. Waymo has been offering rides to Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport for about two years and recently received approval to serve San Jose airport later this year.
Tesla has previously tested its invite-only robotaxi network in Austin, Texas, with around a dozen cars, expanding to cover much of the greater Austin area. Texas regulations are less strict than California’s, making it difficult to fully assess the program’s safety, though no major crashes have been reported.