Elon Musk's robotaxis may soon hit local streets as his company seeks to expand its driverless ridesharing service and catch up with rival Waymo.

Tesla has told California Department of Motor Vehicles officials that it plans to take a phased approach to operating in the state, starting with giving employees pre-arranged rides using a safety

Tesla has yet to apply for regulatory permits it needs to operate driverless taxis in California, two state regulators said on Thursday, a day after CEO Elon Musk said the company would expand its robotaxis to the San Francisco Bay Area within two months.