Tesla Secures Ride-Hailing Permit in Arizona, Advancing Robotaxi Ambitions
Tesla has obtained a Vehicle for Hire permit from Arizona's Department of Transportation, authorizing the company to operate as a transportation network provider. The license marks Tesla's third U.S. ride-hailing approval after Texas and California, positioning it against Alphabet's Waymo—which currently operates in five states.
Elon Musk's 2016 vision of converting Tesla vehicles into autonomous taxis via software updates edges closer to reality. While the permit expands Tesla's business model beyond EV manufacturing, the company still trails Waymo's established geographic footprint in the robotaxi race.