California DMV records show Tesla completed zero miles of autonomous testing on public roads in 2025—the sixth consecutive year without activity—stalling progress toward driverless robotaxi approvals under new rules requiring 50,000 supervised miles. While robotaxis launch driverless in Austin and pilots expand elsewhere, the company faces regulatory hurdles, business challenges, and a recent share dip.
Department of Motor Vehicles data, reported by Reuters, reveals Tesla logged zero autonomous test miles in California in 2025, with no activity since 2019 and a cumulative total of just 562 miles since 2016. The company holds only a basic permit for testing with a human safety driver and has not applied for advanced permits needed for driverless operations or commercial services, which also require Public Utilities Commission approval.
New DMV rules, set to take effect later in 2026, mandate at least 50,000 autonomous miles with a safety driver before driverless testing. University of South Carolina law professor Bryant Walker Smith, an expert who has consulted for the DMV, told Reuters that Tesla portrays itself as ready while regulators lag, but 'regulators are ready, and they are not.'
CEO Elon Musk has repeatedly promised imminent California rollout, stating in June and October 2025 that robotaxis would arrive 'in a few months' pending approval. Earlier, on an October 2024 earnings call, he said he would be 'shocked' if not approved the next year. However, Tesla's internal pilots rely on human drivers and Full Self-Driving software, not deemed fully autonomous by regulators. Driverless robotaxis began operating in Austin, Texas—a regulation-light market—since June 2026, with a small chauffeur service also running in the San Francisco Bay Area since July 2025.
Tesla has criticized the proposed rules on testing, crashes, and mileage, submitting comments and pursuing legal action against regulators amid frustrations with varying state approvals. In its January 2026 Q4 earnings call, the company outlined plans for robotaxi launches in seven U.S. cities by year-end: Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Las Vegas. CFO Vaibhav Taneja noted early revenue is not yet meaningful, as much of Tesla's $1.5 trillion valuation rests on robotaxi fleets and software.
Competitor Alphabet's Waymo, by contrast, logged over 13 million testing miles (or hours) in California from 2014 through 2023-2024, secured multiple approvals, and now runs one of three commercial driverless fleets there.
Tesla grapples with broader headwinds, including declining U.S. sales, the end of EV tax credits, and shrinking market share in Europe and Asia. Analysts describe a 'transition period,' with investors focused on robotaxi potential, per Thomas Monteiro of Investing.com. News of the California stall contributed to a 1.49% share drop to $402.51 on February 28, 2026, with further after-hours declines.
