Tesla Targets February 2026 for Full Self-Driving Approval in Europe

Tesla Inc. is aiming for approval of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature in Europe by February 2026. The electric vehicle manufacturer has been actively engaging with regulators across the European Union for over a year, as detailed in a post on the social media platform X. This effort includes conducting FSD demonstrations in nearly every EU country, with the goal of facilitating a smooth rollout of the technology.

In its latest Safety Report, Tesla indicated it has safely driven over 1 million kilometers on European roads during internal testing across 17 countries. The company has also requested participation in early access and pilot release programs, providing comprehensive safety data to support its case.

Collaborating with Regulators

Tesla’s strategy primarily focuses on collaborating with the Dutch approval authority, the RDW. The company seeks exemptions for certain FSD features, which entails compliance with existing regulations while also filing for exemptions concerning unregulated behaviors, such as system-initiated lane changes. Tesla has identified some regulations as outdated but is committed to maintaining safety without compromising usability.

The RDW is expected to grant national approval in the Netherlands by February 2026. If successful, other EU countries could recognize this exemption, potentially paving the way for a broader rollout of Tesla’s FSD technology throughout Europe.

Advancements in Full Self-Driving Technology

Recent advancements in Tesla’s Full Self-Driving technology have garnered attention from industry experts. Ross Gerber, co-founder of Gerber Kawasaki, praised the improvements in FSD version 14, calling it a significant upgrade over previous iterations. While he acknowledged some ongoing mapping issues, he expressed overall satisfaction with the enhancements made.

Andrej Karpathy, Tesla’s former AI lead, compared the performance of the FSD system to that of a magnetic levitation train, emphasizing its smooth and confident operation. His comments reflect the substantial advancements in Tesla’s hardware, particularly with the new HW4, which has impressed users with its capabilities.

Gary Black, managing director of The Future Fund LLC, has also highlighted the progress within Tesla’s autonomous driving sector. He noted that FSD version 14 has shown significant improvements, particularly in reducing the number of critical disengagements compared to its predecessor, version 13.

As Tesla continues to push forward with its Full Self-Driving initiative, the outcome of its efforts to secure regulatory approval in Europe could play a crucial role in shaping the future of autonomous driving technology in the region.