Part 7/11:
In California, a vehicle operated with a safety driver present follows different regulatory rules than a vehicle operating without a driver but using FSD. Tesla exploits this by:
Running vehicles with a safety driver onboard for data collection, validation, and initial deployment.
Using the same vehicles in a manner that complies with ride-sharing licenses—vehicles with a driver present, but not actively steering or controlling the car—since regulations allow using FSD in this context.
This duality enables Tesla to claim that they are conducting driver-assist ride-share operations—eligible under existing rules—while secretly gathering data and preparing for full autonomy in the background.