Tesla’s Robotaxi Ambitions Face Regulatory Hurdles at California Airports

Elon Musk's vision for a fleet of autonomous Tesla taxis is hitting bureaucratic roadblocks at California airports. The company has initiated talks with San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland airports to secure permits for passenger services, internal communications reveal. Yet Tesla's approach—using a charter-party carrier permit rather than full autonomous vehicle certification—has raised eyebrows among regulators.

The disconnect highlights Musk's high-risk strategy of deploying technology first and navigating regulations later. His trillion-dollar robotaxi dream, recently tied to a controversial compensation package, now depends on convincing airport authorities that Tesla's limited permit suffices for driverless operations. San Francisco International Airport confirms preliminary discussions, while San Jose notes Tesla's inquiry hasn't progressed to a formal application.