Tesla wants to bring robotaxis to San Francisco. Here’s what’s standing in the way.

Tesla's plans to bring robotaxis to San Francisco face several challenges. Unlike their operations in Austin, Texas, Tesla will have a human employee in the driver's seat for their San Francisco robotaxi service. This is a significant shift from their previous approach, which relied solely on autonomous driving technology. The move comes in response to regulatory concerns and safety considerations. San Francisco's roads and traffic patterns pose unique challenges that have yet to be fully addressed by Tesla's autonomous driving systems. Additionally, California's regulations require a safety driver to be present in self-driving vehicles operating on public roads. While Tesla's robotaxi ambitions in San Francisco represent an important step forward, the company must navigate a complex regulatory landscape and continue to refine its autonomous driving capabilities to overcome the obstacles standing in its way. The success of this venture will have significant implications for the future of self-driving transportation in urban settings.