Netherlands Grants Tesla FSD Temporary Approval, Clarifies Driver Liability as System Not Autonomous

On April 10, the Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW) announced that Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) driver-assistance system has received provisional type approval following an 18-month comprehensive testing and certification process. This approval is a mandatory requirement for automotive products and driver-assistance systems before they can be marketed in the European Union, and it is issued by the RDW as one of the EU’s designated vehicle authorities. The FSD software version approved in the Netherlands differs from the version available in the U.S. market and cannot be directly compared to it. The RDW emphasized that FSD is not a fully autonomous driving system, and drivers remain fully responsible for all driving tasks while using it. Although drivers are not required to keep their hands continuously on the steering wheel when using FSD, the system employs sensors to monitor whether the driver’s gaze remains focused on the road and whether they are prepared to take over control at any moment. If the system detects insufficient attention, it will issue alerts; in extreme cases, Tesla may temporarily disable the FSD feature to ensure safety.