Tesla’s Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk he is convinced that the European Union will soon give the green light to the company’s fully autonomous driving (FSD) system. European regulators do not share his optimism, although the Dutch RDW has given approval and will seek it at EU level.
Tesla charges a monthly subscription fee for the FSD, which can drive itself under certain circumstances but requires the driver’s full attention at all times.
Regulators in the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway – which could be key to approval – are concerned about the tendency to speed, driving on icy roads and the ability of drivers to bypass a feature designed to prevent cellphone use. They are also frustrated with Tesla’s strategy of publicly encouraging vehicle owners to pressure regulators to approve FSD.
Some regulators have praised the behavior of Tesla vehicles in complex traffic, and some have nothing against automated driving, as long as it complies with regulations. For approval, it is necessary to collect the votes of the representatives 55 place member state of the Union i 65 place its population. The committee that decides on this should meet again in July and October.
Some Wall Street analysts predict a widespread introduction of FSD across Europe within a few months. Tesla expects it in the second or third quarter of this year. The approval of FSD in Europe is key to increasing Tesla’s sales in Europe, which fell by 27th place in 2025 due to protests over Musk’s political activities.