Musk Says EU Will Soon Approve FSD, But Regulators in Multiple Countries Are Skeptical
Tesla CEO Elon Musk says he is confident that the EU will soon approve the company's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. However, emails from several European regulators show significant skepticism about the technology and its claimed safety benefits.
In April of this year, the Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW) approved Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology. The RDW is currently seeking EU-level certification for the system, with a key committee hearing scheduled for Tuesday.
Approval of full self-driving in Europe is crucial for Tesla, which is trying to regain market share there. The electric vehicle manufacturer offers a monthly subscription service for the full self-driving function, which enables automated driving in specific road conditions but requires the driver to remain highly attentive at all times.
Reports indicate that regulators in the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Norway have raised several concerns about the technology, and these countries hold key sway in Musk's push for FSD approval.
Regulatory concerns include the system's tendency to speed, its safety on icy roads, and whether drivers can bypass the vehicle's controls to prevent mobile phone use.
Regulators have also expressed dissatisfaction with Tesla's practice of publicly urging owners to pressure regulators to release the full self-driving system.
The European Commission will hear from Dutch officials on Tuesday to explain the reasons for approving Tesla's FSD.
For FSD to gain formal EU approval, members of the committee representing 55% of EU member states and covering 65% of the EU population must vote in favor. No FSD-related vote is scheduled this week, with the committee's next two meetings expected in July and October.