The permit lays the groundwork toward a driverless taxi service. Tesla has said it will launch such a service in Austin, Texas in June.

Tesla received a permit Tuesday from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to operate a transportation service in the state, the beginning of

Tesla on Tuesday received the first in a series of approvals from California required for the electric car maker to eventually launch a promised robotaxi service in the state, according to a state regulator.