Tesla launched ride-hailing in San Francisco's Bay Area on Thursday but did not mention using self driving robotaxis for the service. California has not permitted Tesla to offer robotaxi service, and the limited rollout highlights the regulatory hurdles the company faces as it looks to pivot to robotaxis amid cooling electric vehicle sales.

Tesla Inc. is offering ride-hailing services in the San Francisco Bay Area, the birthplace of ride-sharing and where the EV maker has plenty of competition from services with drivers at the wheel as well as from self-driving cars.