Tesla’s ambition to deploy a robotaxi service is facing increasing headwinds from government regulators who express confusion over the company’s technology and operational plans. While Elon Musk has publicly stated Tesla is pursuing ‘regulatory permission,’ it appears the company has yet to submit the required permit applications for completely driverless vehicle operation in San Francisco. State authorities are actively seeking greater clarity on the precise nature of Tesla’s planned robotaxi service. The current use of safety drivers is adding to the complexity and uncertainty surrounding Tesla’s regulatory compliance posture.