Tesla is recruiting robotaxi test drivers in New York City, yet the company hasn’t submitted permit applications.

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A Tesla robotaxi drives on the street along South Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, U.S., June 22, 2025. Joel Angel Juarez | Reuters

Tesla is currently recruiting test drivers in New York to operate vehicles equipped with “automated driving systems.” However, the company has yet to apply for the necessary permits to conduct autonomous vehicle testing in the city.

A job opening on Tesla’s website indicates that they are seeking vehicle operators in the borough of Queens. These operators will be “responsible for driving an engineering vehicle for extended periods, conducting dynamic audio and camera data collection for testing and training purposes.”

A spokesperson for the New York City Department of Transportation informed that Tesla has not yet sought approvals to test autonomous vehicles on city streets. Reports have previously noted that Tesla is hiring test drivers for its robotaxis in Brooklyn.

All companies that obtain permissions to test autonomous vehicles in New York are required to maintain “a trained safety driver behind the wheel, ready to take control of an AV-enabled vehicle at all times,” according to the DOT spokesperson. Additionally, Tesla has not applied for permits to test automated driving systems in New York State as confirmed by a spokesperson from the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles, which is necessary if a human driver is involved.

Tesla did not respond to a request for comment.

Alphabet’s Waymo, a leader in the robotaxi sector in North America, has applied to test its autonomous vehicles in New York, with the application currently under review. A DMV spokesperson mentioned that the process includes approvals from both the city and state.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been promoting a vision for the company focusing on AI and robotics rather than solely on the sales of current vehicles. However, the majority of Tesla’s revenue continues to come from the sale of electric vehicles and battery energy storage systems.

Tesla’s electric vehicle sales have been experiencing a decline this year, particularly in Europe, attributed in part to Musk’s focus on the Cybertruck over producing a more affordable EV with broader appeal. Some challenges the company faces stem from political backlash stemming from Musk’s rhetoric and past associations.

In addition to hiring efforts in Queens, Tesla is also seeking test drivers for its Autopilot team to collect data from drives in various cities including Dallas, Houston, Tampa, Orlando, Miami, and Palo Alto, California, where Tesla’s engineering headquarters is located.

Current listings on Tesla’s website indicate that Autopilot vehicle operators may need to travel to various domestic and international locations and should be familiar with “automated driving systems,” hinting at ongoing testing of Tesla’s robotaxi and FSD (Full Self Driving) systems.

Recently, Tesla secured a permit in Texas to operate a ride-hailing service. The Tesla Robotaxi LLC permit does not mandate the presence of a human safety driver. However, Tesla has been operating a fleet of robotaxis in Austin since late June, with employees present in the front passenger seat to intervene if necessary. Currently, this service is available only to invited users. Musk mentioned on X that they aim to open the Austin service to the general public next month.

In San Francisco, Tesla is also conducting a limited, manned car service, yet promotes it as “autonomous ride-hailing.” Musk recently stated that the company is working swiftly to deploy over 100 Teslas for autonomous ride-hailing in the Bay Area, allowing broader access to ride requests.

Despite these developments, Tesla is not authorized to transport passengers in autonomous vehicles on public roads in California, as clarified by the California Public Utilities Commission.

Tesla’s approach to autonomous vehicles has attracted federal investigations, product liability lawsuits, and recalls following incidents during the use of its Autopilot or FSD systems. The California DMV has previously initiated a lawsuit against Tesla, citing false advertising concerning its driver assistance functionalities.

While Tesla owner manuals emphasize that Autopilot and FSD features are “hands on” systems requiring a driver to be ready to respond, Tesla and Musk have historically made claims suggesting that a Tesla vehicle can “drive itself.”

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