The Dutch Road Transport Authority (RDW) has granted approval for Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system after an extensive 18-month review process. This approval was based on over a million miles (1.6 million km) driven on EU roads, 13,000 customer ride-alongs, and comprehensive documentation. RDW concluded that the system is safe when used properly. The authority is now presenting its findings to other European regulators. Later this summer, the Technical Committee on Motor Vehicles (TCMV) is expected to vote on whether to adopt RDW's approval across the rest of the EU; Tesla requires 15 out of the 27 member states to approve for this to happen.
However, emails reviewed by Reuters indicate that some other regulators harbor skepticism. A Swedish official expressed being “quite surprised” to learn the system had been programmed to exceed speed limits, an aspect he would not condone. He also questioned if the name FSD "risks giving consumers a misleading impression," a concern that critics have long raised regarding Tesla's naming practices.
Winter performance emerged as another significant concern. A Finnish official inquired, "Are they really introducing a system that allows hands-free driving also on icy 80 km/h roads?" This official also highlighted the issue of large-animal collisions, referencing Sweden’s well-known moose test. The emails further revealed Tesla's aggressive lobbying of Swedish regulators to mirror the Dutch approval just days after RDW's announcement and before the Swedes had reviewed any relevant documents. The Technical Committee's next meetings, where a potential vote could occur, are scheduled for July and October.