Tesla says yes, Europe might respond

The deployment of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) in Europe remains shrouded in a fog of mistrust and caution.

While Tesla announced this weekend a possible approval in the Netherlands as early as February 2026, the Dutch regulator RDW quickly tempered these announcements. According to the RDW, this date only corresponds to a planned period for demonstrations of the system, and no authorization decision has yet been made.

The FSD, available for several years in the United States and praised for its safety, faces strict rules in Europe. The main obstacle is the regulation on driver assistance systems, which makes the most advanced features of FSD illegal. To circumvent this framework, Tesla had considered targeted exemptions, for example, for automated lane changes off highways. But the path to approval remains long and complex.

Tesla advances, Europe retreats,…

This situation highlights the contrast between innovation and regulation. Tesla insists that adapting the FSD to current European rules could diminish its performance and safety. The manufacturer prefers a results-based approach, while authorities demand strict compliance with legal requirements.

Elon Musk has expressed his frustration with this process multiple times. During the recent annual shareholder meeting, he encouraged European customers to “push the regulators’ hands” to expedite approval. Tesla has also updated its FSD safety tracking site, but some experts have criticized the methods and comparisons used, deeming them overly optimistic.

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For now, the only certainty is that Tesla will be able to present its system to the Dutch regulators in February 2026. The actual approval will depend on the rigorous evaluation of FSD safety. European drivers will still have to wait before enjoying a technology that has already revolutionized driving in the United States.

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