Tesla seeks EU approval for FSD despite safety concerns

Tesla is seeking European Union approval for its Full Self-Driving system after Dutch vehicle regulator RDW cleared the supervised software in April, but regulators in several countries questioned its safety and branding.

The correspondence raised concerns about speeding, use on icy roads, and whether the name could mislead drivers, although some officials reported strong performance in city tests.

RDW will explain its decision at an EU committee meeting, but no vote is scheduled, and approval would require support from countries representing 55% of member states and 65% of the bloc’s population.

Emails also show Tesla asked some countries to recognize the Dutch approval before they had reviewed the documents, and regulators complained after Elon Musk urged owners to pressure officials.

🔗 Source: Reuters

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

Competitors gained narrow approvals for more autonomous systems by accepting tighter limits 1

Mercedes-Benz and Honda won approval for Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Level 3 systems under strict operating rules 1.
Mercedes-Benz introduced Drive Pilot in Germany in 2022 for the S-Class and EQS, with SAE Level 3 capability 1.
In California, Drive Pilot can run only on certain highways in daylight at up to 40 mph (64 km/h). The driver must stay behind the wheel and take over when asked 1.
Honda started leasing 100 Legend Hybrid EX sedans in Japan in 2021 with its certified Level 3 Traffic Jam Pilot 1.
Those cases suggest regulators will allow automated driving features when the geography and functions stay tightly bounded 1.

The EU decision will influence how regulators treat software-based driving features

The case pits Tesla’s software-led development style against the auto sector’s safety-focused approval process.
Tesla released a beta version of Full Self-Driving to consumers to gather data. That differs from the narrower rollouts used for some Level 3 systems 1.
A rejection in the EU could push Tesla to rename the system and change parts of it in Europe. That would pressure a piece of the company’s valuation tied to autonomy.
An approval could guide how regulators in other regions handle software-updated driving functions and AI in other safety-critical industries.