Tesla Aims for February 2026 Approval of Full Self-Driving in Europe

Tesla Inc. is targeting February 2026 for the approval of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature across Europe. The electric vehicle manufacturer has been actively engaging with regulators in the European Union (EU) for more than a year, according to a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

The company has conducted FSD demonstrations in nearly every EU country, showcasing its technology while providing comprehensive safety data through its latest Safety Report. During internal testing, Tesla has recorded over 1 million kilometers driven safely on European roads across 17 countries.

Collaborative Efforts with Dutch Authorities

Central to Tesla’s strategy is collaboration with the Dutch approval authority, RDW. The company is seeking exemptions for certain FSD features that comply with existing regulations. This includes filing for exemptions related to unregulated behaviors, such as system-initiated lane changes. Tesla has emphasized the need for regulatory updates, arguing that some existing rules are outdated. The company aims to enhance safety without compromising usability.

The RDW is expected to grant national approval in the Netherlands by February 2026. If successful, this approval could facilitate the recognition of exemptions by other EU countries, potentially leading to an EU-wide rollout of the FSD feature.

Improvements in FSD Technology

Tesla’s Full Self-Driving technology has seen significant advancements in recent months. Ross Gerber, co-founder of Gerber Kawasaki, has praised the improvements in FSD version 14, describing it as a substantial upgrade over previous iterations. Despite noting some mapping challenges, Gerber expressed satisfaction with the overall enhancements in the system.

Former Tesla AI lead Andrej Karpathy compared the FSD’s performance to that of a magnetic levitation train, highlighting its smooth and confident operation. Karpathy’s remarks underline the progress made in Tesla’s hardware, particularly with the introduction of the HW4 system, which has garnered positive feedback from users.

Additionally, Gary Black, managing director of The Future Fund LLC, noted that FSD version 14 has significantly reduced critical disengagements compared to version 13. This improvement illustrates Tesla’s ongoing commitment to advancing its autonomous driving capabilities.

As Tesla continues its pursuit of regulatory approval in Europe, the company aims to solidify its position as a leader in the autonomous driving sector. The anticipated developments in FSD technology and regulatory compliance will be closely watched by both consumers and industry stakeholders.