"Tesla secured a series of approvals from California required for a promised robotaxi service.

The California Public Utilities Commission said it approved Tesla’s application for a transportation charter-party carrier permit, a license typically associated with chauffeur-operated services, allowing the company to own and control a fleet of vehicles and transport employees on pre-arranged trips.

The permit is a prerequisite for applying to operate an autonomous ride-hailing service in California, but a CPUC spokesperson said the current permit “does not authorize them to provide rides” in autonomous vehicles, and does not allow Tesla to operate a ride-hailing service to the public."