--- title: "Get Ready for Tesla Robotaxis in San Francisco—Like Today" date: "2025-07-25" modified: "2025-07-25" authors: - name: "Byron Hurd" job_title: "Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/byron-hurd" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/get-ready-for-tesla-robotaxis-in-san-francisco-like-today" categories: - "Car Tech" - "Electric Vehicles" - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Self-Driving Tech" - "Tesla News" tags: - "Electric Vehicle" - "Tesla" --- # Get Ready for Tesla Robotaxis in San Francisco—Like Today ![Tesla Model Y Robotaxi]() *\Tesla\* Tesla's robotaxis may be coming to San Francisco sooner than we thought—much sooner, as it turns out. According to *[Business Insider]()*, Tesla is already mobilizing local employees with the intention of bringing service online Friday—as in, today—despite not having yet sought approval for its vehicles to operate autonomously with passengers in the state of California. If the report proves accurate, it's most likely that Tesla's new service will not be entirely autonomous. Without a [permit to operate robotaxis]() in California, ride-hailing services are required to provide human chaperones for their four-wheeled robots. We dropped Tesla a line to ask about this, and will update with details if a spokesperson is able to provide any. Tesla's chief rival, Waymo, originally [received approval to operate without human monitors in 2023]() alongside GM's Cruise. GM later [sidelined development]() of the platform and [shut down its ride-hailing operation in San Francisco]() for good. Late last year, Tesla applied for a permit that would allow it to operate as a ride-hail service, but the application included provisions for background checks and drug testing of potential operators. To be fair, inebriation would [explain a lot of what we've seen from Tesla's so-called Full Self Driving package](), but it's highly unlikely that recreational substances have anything to do with it—at least [not on the part of the robots](). Per *Reuters*, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said just this week that the company was in the process of getting regulatory permission to launch driverless service in several states, including California. [As of Wednesday](), CA officials had not even received the company's application, let alone approved a permit allowing Tesla to operate an autonomous taxi service. *Have you spotted a Tesla Robotaxi operating in San Francisco? Let us know at tips@thedrive.com.* ## Author Byron is an editor at The Drive with a keen eye for infrastructure, sales and regulatory stories. He brings a light, punchy style to all of his content, believing that there's plenty out there to be laughed at—himself included. Born and raised in Maryland but now based just a stone's throw from Detroit, Byron is an auto enthusiast and generalist who enjoys building and tinkering with things of all kinds, from cars, computers and digital cityscapes, to the new garage that will soon house his fleet (a CT4-V Blackwing, a JK Wrangler and an NA Miata). Inspired by an early love of rollercoasters, Byron quickly caught the high-performance driving itch. He's been tracking and auto-crossing his cars since 2007. In his downtime, Byron enjoys reading, playing city builders, and studying the history of the Motor City. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()