Tesla Seeks Airport Permits for Bay Area Robotaxi Ride-Hailing

(SAN FRANCISCO) Tesla has begun talks to secure airport permits for its new ride-hailing service at San Francisco International (SFO), San Jose Mineta (SJC), and Oakland International (OAK), while California regulators press the company to stop using “Robotaxi” branding for service that still relies on a human safety driver.

Airport officials in all three locations confirm contact with the company but say no formal applications or approvals are in place as of early September 2025. California’s main ride-hail and autonomous vehicle regulator, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), also confirms Tesla does not hold the permits needed for autonomous passenger service, with or without a safety driver, in the state.

Service launch and operating mode

Tesla launched its Bay Area ride-hailing service in late July after a pilot in Austin, Texas. The expanded Bay Area geofence now includes San Francisco, Berkeley, Hayward, Fremont, San Jose, and parts of Marin and the East Bay.

• The company is expanding fast, with a Bay Area fleet target of 100+ vehicles in the coming months.
• The company’s app—branded Robotaxi—went live in the 🇺🇸 United States and 🇨🇦 Canada in early September.
• In California, the service runs in “Supervised Full Self-Driving” mode with a human safety driver in the front seat.
• This differs from Austin, where the operator sits in the passenger seat and the driver’s seat is empty.

Airport access is the next prize: airport rides are among the most lucrative in ride-hailing, and airport permits often set the tone for how new mobility systems interact with public infrastructure.

Airport permit landscape

SFO, SJC, and OAK each run separate, detailed permit programs that govern staging, pickup and drop-off zones, curb management, fees, and data sharing. These rules grew from earlier waves of Uber and Lyft expansion.

• SFO, SJC, and OAK confirm contact with Tesla but no approvals are in place.
• SFO is drafting a new permit framework tailored to autonomous vehicles to provide clarity before approving full AV operations on airport property.
• Airport permit programs typically include requirements such as:
  • Insurance coverage
  • Data reporting on trips
  • Operator and driver training (where applicable)
  • Compliance with designated pickup and drop-off zones
  • Coordination with public safety teams

Some airports also use temporary staging areas or time-limited pilots before granting full operating rights. For AVs, officials are honing requirements around remote assistance protocols, disengagement reporting, and emergency response coordination.

Regulatory posture in California

California regulators are pressing hard on branding and legal definitions.

• CPUC staff met with Tesla in Palo Alto and advised the company not to market any California service as a “robotaxi” unless it meets the legal definition of autonomous service.
• Today, Tesla’s active state authority is a Charter Party Carrier (TCP) permit, which only covers ride services with human drivers. It does not authorize autonomous passenger service.
• According to CPUC records cited by airport officials, Tesla has not applied for, nor received, AV passenger service permits.

The CPUC publishes its autonomous vehicle permitting rules and program updates publicly; readers can review current requirements and permit types on the commission’s official page for autonomous vehicles at the California Public Utilities Commission.

Operational details and service scope

• The Bay Area geofence allows trips spanning up to 65 miles and roughly 75 minutes end to end.
• Fleet growth toward 100+ vehicles aims to widen access and reduce wait times.
• In the Bay Area, expect a human safety driver up front, visible steering inputs, and supervised FSD operation.
• At non-airport pickup spots, standard curb rules apply. Airport launches will likely start small, with defined pickup locations, signage, and off-peak tests.

Airport spokesperson confirmations

• SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel confirms discussions with Tesla.
• SJC spokesperson Julie Jarratt says the airport has received an inquiry but no formal application.
• OAK spokesperson Kaley Skantz confirms contact without meetings scheduled so far.

Each airport will apply its own criteria for approvals and may require data sharing on trip volumes, dwell times, and incident reporting.

Federal context and national standards

The policy picture is shifting at the federal level.

• In August, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the Trump Administration is moving to streamline AV regulations into a single national standard—a step the industry has long requested.
• If finalized, a national approach could make it easier for companies like Tesla to scale Robotaxi service across multiple states.
• Still, local and state rules will continue to shape how vehicles operate on city streets and inside airports, where safety, traffic flow, and curb access are high-stakes concerns.

History also factors into decisions: city and state leaders recall San Francisco’s run-ins with Cruise and earlier problems dating back to Uber’s 2016 driverless tests.

Potential impacts and competition

For international travelers arriving in the Bay Area—many with tight schedules, language barriers, and multiple connections—the promise of a simple app-based ride from the terminal is appealing. But until airport permits are issued, Tesla cannot legally conduct airport pickups and drop-offs under a dedicated airport program.

• Travelers may need to rely on existing options like:
  • Licensed taxis
  • Shuttles
  • Public transit
  • Uber and Lyft
  • Competitors already vetted by airport authorities (e.g., Waymo)
• Waymo is already operating at SJC and is mapping SFO under a conditional deal, offering a live test case for how airports may phase in AV services.

Industry analysts view Tesla’s airport push as a turning point. With control over vehicle hardware, software, and charging, Tesla could leverage an end-to-end setup to reshape price competition on airport runs if it secures permits and CPUC AV authority.

What full autonomy would require in California

Even if Tesla removes safety drivers technologically, legal and regulatory steps remain:

• Tesla would need CPUC authority for AV passenger service to carry paying passengers in autonomous mode.
• CPUC permitting comes in stages and may require:
  • Proven safety records
  • Incident and disengagement data
  • Clear rider support channels
  • Plans for outages or unusual weather
• Airports may add layers such as:
  • Data sharing on trip volumes and dwell times
  • Quiet hours for certain zones
  • Minimum service standards to prevent curbside backups

Community and city concerns

Local groups and city planners are watching closely.

• Commuters, airport workers, and planners wonder whether AVs will reduce deadheading (empty driving between trips) or simply move it elsewhere.
• Advocacy groups like Streets Forward have expressed concerns about increased traffic and safety if AV deployment scales too rapidly.

Timeline and expectations

The timeline is fluid and depends on multiple checkpoints.

• Airport leaders expect formal filings and reviews in the coming months, but no approval dates are guaranteed.
• Regulators will verify whether Tesla’s public claims match permitted operations.
• Clear, accurate language in apps and on vehicles will be important to avoid public confusion.
• In the near term, riders should expect:
  • A human safety driver in front for California trips
  • Standard curb procedures at non-airport locations
  • Small, tightly controlled airport pilots if and when permitted

Advice for travelers

Families, students, business travelers, and new arrivals should:

• Check each airport’s official ground transportation page to confirm permitted services.
• If a service lacks an airport permit, arrange pickups at nearby transit stops or use an approved provider from the terminal.
• People with mobility needs should confirm vehicle accessibility in the app and seek assistance desks inside the terminal.

National expansion and final note

Tesla says it aims to expand Robotaxi to more states—Nevada, Arizona, and Florida among them—depending on state approvals and pilot outcomes. Federal efforts to standardize AV rules could speed the transition from pilots to broader service, but airports and local agencies will still require direct agreements tailored to facilities and safety plans.

Airport authorities appreciate the stakes: airport rides are a core revenue stream and the first point of contact for visitors. As Waymo and Tesla push forward, airports are drafting playbooks that may become national models—balancing passenger convenience with safety and clear curb management.

Three facts stand out as the regulatory and operational discussions continue: no airport permits yet, no CPUC AV passenger authority yet, and human safety drivers remain required for California service. Until those change, the Robotaxi brand sits in tension with the legal reality on the ground, even as Tesla races to grow its Bay Area footprint and prepare for a driverless future by the end of 2025.