Tesla is hiring drivers to test self-driving cars in New York, but has no permits yet
'13.08.2025'
ForumDaily New York
Tesla has announced a recruitment drive for drivers in New York to test cars with “automated driving systems.” However, the company has not yet received the required permits for testing self-driving cars in the city or state, reports CNBC.
On the Tesla website posted a job posting for drivers in the Queens borough. The description says they will be "responsible for operating an engineering vehicle for extended periods of time, conducting dynamic audio and video data collection for systems testing and training."
Tesla has not applied for approval to test autonomous vehicles on city streets.
The company previously sought drivers for robotaxi in Brooklyn.
On the subject: Flying Electric Taxis to Appear in New York City in a Year
According to the rules, any enterprise that receives a permit is required to have a trained driver behind the wheel, ready to take over the controls at any time.
There is no permission at the state level either.
Tesla has not applied for a permit to test self-driving systems in the state, which is required even if there is a human driver in the car.
Unlike Tesla, North American robotaxi leader Waymo (Alphabet) has already applied for testing in New York. It is still under review.
Musk's Strategy and Sales Problems
Tesla CEO Elon Mask promotes the idea that the company's future lies in artificial intelligence and robotics, not just selling electric cars. However, Tesla still makes almost all of its revenue from selling electric cars and energy storage systems.
Tesla's EV sales have fallen in 2024, especially in Europe. Among the reasons are Musk's focus on the Cybertruck instead of a more affordable model. In addition, the political scandal surrounding his statements, his cooperation with US President Donald Trump, and his support for the AfD party in Germany have added fuel to the fire.
Test drives and projects in other cities
In addition to Queens, Tesla is looking for Autopilot drivers to collect data in Dallas, Houston, Tampa, Orlando, Miami, and Palo Alto (the company's engineering headquarters).
According to the job posting, operators could be sent on international and domestic trips. They should be familiar with “automated driving systems.” This alludes to testing robotaxis and the FSD (Full Self Driving) system, which is sold in the U.S. as FSD Unsupervised.
Last week, Tesla received approval to launch a ride-hailing service in Texas. State regulations do not require the free cars to have a driver to supervise the process.
Tesla has had a fleet of robotaxis operating in Austin since late June. For now, only invited customers can use them. A staff member sits in the front passenger seat, ready to intervene if needed. Musk said he plans to make the service available to everyone next month.
In San Francisco, the company is testing a limited driver-led service, marketing it as "autonomous ride-hailing."
Ride-hailing is when you order a ride through an app or online service, where the driver picks you up and takes you to the desired location.
Musk wrote that Tesla wants to launch more than 100 cars in the Bay Area as soon as possible so that anyone can book a ride.
However, in California, Tesla is not permitted to carry passengers in fully autonomous vehicles.
Scandals and lawsuits
Tesla's approach to self-driving taxis has sparked federal investigations, damage lawsuits, and recalls after crashes involving Autopilot and FSD systems.
Tesla has already been sued by the California Department of Transportation. The company was accused of falsely advertising its autopilot. The user manual says that Autopilot and FSD are “driver-involved” systems. But Musk and Tesla have repeatedly claimed that the car can “drive itself.”
