Netherlands First in Europe to Approve Tesla FSD
▼ Summary
– Dutch regulators have approved Tesla’s Full-Self Driving (FSD) Supervised, making the Netherlands the first European country to authorize it.
– The RDW stated that the system supports drivers and, with strict monitoring, is safer than other driver assistance systems.
– The FSD update is rolling out to limited users, who must complete a tutorial and quiz acknowledging the system is not autonomous.
– Tesla’s European headquarters is in Amsterdam, which is noted as a fitting location for this first European approval.
– In the US, Tesla’s FSD is under a NHTSA investigation that could lead to a recall, though a separate investigation recently ended.
The Netherlands has become the first European nation to officially approve Tesla’s Full-Self Driving (FSD) Supervised technology for public roads. This landmark decision by the Dutch vehicle authority, the RDW, follows an extensive testing period lasting more than eighteen months. The approval is a significant milestone for Tesla, whose European headquarters is based in Amsterdam, and it potentially paves the way for broader regulatory acceptance across the European Union.
In its official statement, the RDW emphasized that properly used driver assistance systems enhance road safety by supporting the driver. The agency described the technology as a supplement to the human operator, noting that its continuous monitoring of the driver makes it safer than other available systems. This approval specifically covers the supervised version of FSD, which requires an attentive driver ready to take control at any moment.
The software update enabling the feature, identified as version 2026.3.6, is now being distributed to a select group of Tesla owners in the country. Before activating the system, drivers must complete a mandatory tutorial and pass a quiz. This process reinforces a critical warning that FSD Supervised does not make a vehicle autonomous, urging drivers to remain vigilant and avoid complacency behind the wheel.
This European breakthrough comes amid a mixed regulatory environment for Tesla in the United States. The company’s advanced driver-assistance system is currently under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an inquiry that could result in a recall. However, Tesla recently concluded a separate federal investigation without a mandated recall, illustrating the complex and evolving landscape for autonomous driving technology.
(Source: The Verge)
