Tesla’s full self-driving tech may lose EU approval

Tesla’s claims that its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system would be approved by Dutch regulator RDW in February 2026 have been called into question.

RDW, which oversees vehicle licensing in the Netherlands, clarified that Tesla will only demonstrate FSD Supervised in February, and no approval decision has been made.

The regulator said efforts are ongoing and that meeting Tesla’s proposed timeline is uncertain, emphasizing that safety is a priority.

Tesla’s FSD Supervised is an add-on to its standard Autopilot system and requires drivers to stay alert and keep their hands on the wheel.

FSD is currently available in Australia, Canada, China, Mexico, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, and the US.

🔗 Source: TechCrunch

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

RDW’s demonstration does not guarantee EU market access for Tesla FSD Supervised

Tesla’s February 2026 demonstration with RDW is only the first step. Public-road tests in the Netherlands require an RDW exemption (a testing permit) under the Admittance procedure for connected and automated vehicles 1.
RDW needs 3 to 6 months on average to process connected and automated vehicle applications, which covers the testing permission phase only, not deployment approval 1.
For EU-wide type-approval (the certification needed to sell across the bloc) of Level 3 (conditional automation) functions such as Automated Lane Keeping Systems (ALKS), manufacturers must meet United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Regulation No. 157 (R157) alongside R155 (cybersecurity) and R156 (software updates) 2. Testing covers virtual simulations, track scenarios, and public-road driving 2.
More than 50 UNECE member states have adopted R157, which targets Level 3 systems where liability can transfer to the manufacturer 2.
The UNECE New Assessment/Test Method (NATM) for Automated Driving framework launched in February 2021 defines a five-pillar safety validation approach 3. The pillars cover track testing and real-world testing 3. They also cover audit, virtual testing, and in-service monitoring 3.

Safety validation and compliance vendors can target EU technical services for R157 partnerships

Each EU country designates technical services (independent testing labs authorized by regulators) to handle testing and certification for vehicle type approvals 4. This creates partnership openings for vendors in virtual testing, simulation, and compliance 4.
Siemens has worked with RDW and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), the EU’s in-house science service, since October 2022 on credibility assessment frameworks for virtual testing 3. The project gives technology vendors a path to partner on the new multi-pillar certification approach 3.
Credibility assessment of simulation models is central for manufacturers that plan to use virtual testing as a certification pillar 3. This opens doors for companies that validate simulation environments 3.
Safety-validation vendors should map which technical services in each EU country are designated for automated driving assessments and their specific testing scopes to pick prospects 4.