Feed: Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
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Title: Texas will require permits for self-driving cars starting in September

Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2025 16:47:55 +0000
Link: https://www.engadget.com/ai/texas-will-requir...

Starting September 1, fully autonomous cars will require a permit to operate
in Texas. This new restriction comes after the state's governor, Greg Abbott,
signed into law the SB 2807 bill that requires authorization from the state's
Department of Motor Vehicles for self-driving cars on public streets without
human interaction.

The signing of the new law coincides with Tesla's launch of its robotaxi
service in Austin today where invited guests got to ride in fully autonomous
Model Ys. While the law doesn't go into effect until a few months later,
Tesla's robotaxi launch could have skirted this new regulation since all
rides are accompanied by a human "safety monitor" in the front passenger
seat.

Tesla Robotaxi in Quicksilver 📷 @AdanGuajardo pic.twitter.com/f87yRW9NWP

ΓÇö Adan Guajardo (@AdanGuajardo) June 21, 2025

In the coming months, Texas' new law may prove to be more than just a
headache for Tesla. Besides the permits, the upcoming regulation allows state
authorities the ability to revoke permits and requires companies to provide
methods of dealing with self-driving cars in emergency situations to police
and first responders. While this could become a serious hurdle for Tesla,
it's also likely to affect Waymo, since it currently operates an autonomous
ride-hailing service in Austin.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at
https://www.engadget.com/ai/texas-will-requir...
starting-in-september-164755457.html?src=rss

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