Tesla's Regulated FSD Approved in Netherlands, Marks European Debut

The Dutch vehicle regulatory authority RDW has approved the regulated version of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system for use in the Netherlands, allowing drivers to activate the system under supervision. The system can perform steering, acceleration, and braking on both highways and urban roads. Following an 18-month testing period, RDW stated that, when used under prescribed conditions, FSD contributes to improved road safety. Tesla plans to initially roll out the feature in the Netherlands before gradually expanding it to other European countries. Unlike in the U.S., where FSD is offered to customers via subscription, the European version must meet stricter vehicle type-approval requirements, making the U.S. and European implementations of FSD incomparable in terms of standards and technical execution. Tesla relies primarily on cameras and artificial intelligence for environmental perception, rather than the industry-standard multi-sensor fusion approach. RDW will subsequently submit an application to the European Commission, which will then be subject to a vote by EU member states. The system can only be formally deployed across the entire EU if it receives support from a majority of member states. In the United States, FSD is currently facing lawsuits and regulatory investigations due to incidents and traffic violations linked to its use.