Tesla Robotaxi approval process kicks off for Arizona

Tesla has started the regulatory approval process for Robotaxi vehicles in Arizona in a bid to expand its current autonomous ride-hailing service area, which is limited to Austin.

Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) revealed that Tesla has applied for autonomous vehicle testing and public operations with and without a driver. The company has filed a request to run robotaxis in the Phoenix Metro area. Meanwhile, ADOT is working on the approval request, and a final decision is expected by the end of this month.

Arizona requires autonomous vehicle companies to follow a self-certification process for testing with or without a driver. However, companies that want to start taxi and ride-hailing services must also follow the permitting process and procedures.

Tesla Robotaxi Arizona

Last month, Tesla rolled out its first robotaxis in Austin, allowing invite-only users to test its autonomous driving services. The EV maker is using Model Y, its best seller, featuring an unsupervised version of Full Self Driving (FSD). Users also have a dedicated app, which is used to see the geofenced area, book a ride, check ETA and access its features pre-arrival.

This is more like a test rather than a public release, with selected users riding these autonomous vehicles. We can expect a similar move in Arizona with early testers invites and kick start the service within testing guideline parameters.

Yesterday, CEO Elon Musk also confirmed that the existing geofenced area in Austin could see an expansion by the end of this week. Meanwhile, the regulatory approval is still pending in California, which is also expected to clear within this quarter.

(source)