- DMV records indicate Tesla logged no autonomous testing miles in California during 2025.
- Regulatory requirements demand significant testing before driverless ride-hailing permits can be issued.
The status of Tesla autonomous driving approval in California has come under scrutiny after previously unreported state records showed that the company logged no autonomous test miles on public roads in 2025. Data from the California Department of Motor Vehicles indicates that Tesla has not conducted regulated autonomous road testing in the state for six consecutive years.
DMV records reveal absence of autonomous testing
According to state Department of Motor Vehicles documentation and comments from a regulatory spokesperson, the automaker has not submitted any autonomous driving test mileage reports in California since 2019. Prior to that period, the company reported only 562 miles of regulated autonomous testing between 2016 and 2019.
The absence of reported testing activity is notable because California requires companies to follow a structured regulatory pathway before launching driverless mobility services.
Robotaxi service operates with human drivers
In July 2025, the company began operating what it described as a robotaxi service in the San Francisco Bay Area. However, the service functions as a chauffeur-style operation using human drivers who supervise vehicles equipped with the company’s Full Self-Driving driver-assistance software.
Driver assistance versus full autonomy
State regulators and company disclosures clarify that the software used in the service does not qualify as fully autonomous. Instead, it requires continuous human supervision and driver intervention when necessary.
Regulatory pathway for driverless services
Under California’s regulatory framework, companies must obtain multiple permits before offering a commercial driverless ride-hailing service. Currently, the manufacturer holds only an entry-level permit allowing testing of autonomous vehicles with a safety monitor seated in the driver’s seat.
To progress further, companies must accumulate at least 50,000 miles of supervised autonomous driving on public roads before applying for permits that allow testing without a driver. Proposed regulations outlining these requirements are expected to be finalized later this year.
The absence of testing activity continues to raise questions about the timeline for Tesla autonomous driving approval in California as regulators maintain strict safety verification requirements before fully driverless services can operate statewide.
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