This question will resolve to YES if TESLA shows up as having had a driverless testing or deployment permit before or on December 31, 2025, according to the DMV website's list above, using the "as of MONTH DAY, 2025" date. Previously the DMV website has taken a few days to update, so this question will close at the end of Monday, January 5, 2026.
1,000Multiple sources, including direct statements from DMV representatives to media as recent as December 21, 2025 (e.g., Business Insider), confirm Tesla has not applied for these permits.
https://africa.businessinsider.com/transportation/tesla-has-registered-more-than-1000-new-vehicles-for-its-robotaxi-fleet-in-california/866qb66#google_vignette
Tesla's "Robotaxi" isn't registered as an autonomous vehicle service in California, which maintains some of the strictest AV regulations in the country. The company has not applied for a driverless testing permit, a DMV representative told Business Insider.
I expect the process will take months to obtain one even if they have applied in last few days.
https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-robotaxi-bay-area-launch-san-francisco-memo-2025-7
Seems they are planning to launch illegally, both without DMV permit nor CPUC permit.
My opinion: seems they want to start a fight with the state and then play victim after.