Tesla is looking for a robotaxi operator in NYC — before it even has permits
Tesla’s robotaxi woes aren’t stopping it from setting its next target in New York City, even without city permits
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Tesla is hiring a robotaxi operator to join its vehicle data collection team in New York City, despite the fact that it hasn’t yet received city approval to test its autonomous vehicles there.
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In a job posting on Tesla’s website, the electric vehicle company said it's hiring for at least one autopilot vehicle operator. Tesla has not applied for the appropriate permits needed to test its robotaxis in New York City, a spokesperson for the city’s Department of Transportation told CNBC on Monday.
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In order to get permits to drive autonomous vehicles in NYC streets, applicants must apply for an AV technology demonstration or testing permit from New York State’s DMV and obtain an AV testing permit from the city’s transportation department.
The role — based out of Flushing, Queens — would require the operator to drive an engineering vehicle for long periods of time, “conducting dynamic audio and camera data collection for testing and training purposes.”
Tesla launched its robotaxis in Austin, Texas in late June. The highly-anticipated release of the company’s autonomous vehicles was met with a series of traffic violations from its robotaxis, with some mistakes captured on videos that were widely shared. Last week, Tesla shareholders filed a lawsuit against the company and Musk for its alleged “materially false” and “misleading” robotaxi claims.
Days after shareholders filed their suit — and after the company was found partially liable in a fatal Autopilot crash — Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that his firm is training a self-driving model with new enhancements.