05/29/2026
Tesla has been formally cleared by the State of Texas to operate driverless vehicles on a commercial basis, with the state's automated vehicle credentialing portal listing Tesla Robotaxi LLC as Authorized as of May 28, 2026, the day a new state law governing autonomous operators took effect. Alongside the green light, Tesla has self certified the software running on its robotaxis as Level 4, the SAE category that defines high automation in which the system handles all driving tasks within a defined area without needing a human safety driver. The self certification structure means Tesla itself is making the Level 4 declaration under the new Texas framework rather than receiving a third party certification, a process the law explicitly allows for operators meeting its requirements. The authorization gives Tesla a clear legal runway to expand its Robotaxi service across Texas, where the company is already running passenger trips in Austin, Dallas, and Houston, and aligns with the recent start of Cybercab production at Giga Texas earlier this year.
