SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -Tesla has been granted the first in a series of approvals from California that would be required for the electric car maker to eventually launch a promised robotaxi service in the state, according to a state regulator.

The California Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday said it approved Tesla's application for a transportation charter-party carrier permit, a license typically associated with chauffeur-operated services.

That classification means Tesla would own and control a fleet of vehicles and could transport employees on pre-arranged trips, but is separate from the commission's permits to run ride-hailing services or autonomous vehicles.

Tesla had applied for the permit in November 2024, the regulator said in an email, adding that the company had not applied for the other permits yet.