Nigeria, March 1 -- Tesla has taken a step toward launching a transportation service in California by applying for a permit with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

The application, submitted in November 2024, is still under review.

The permit Tesla is seeking is different from the one held by ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft.

Instead of allowing independent drivers to use their own cars, Tesla's permit would let the company operate its own fleet with employees as drivers.

Although Tesla has not applied for a permit specifically for a driverless ride-hailing service, securing this permit is a necessary requirement for participating in California's Autonomous Vehicle Passenger Service program.

This suggests tha...