Brussels: European vehicle regulators are set to convene in Brussels, where the Dutch vehicle authority RDW will present its case supporting the approval of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised system across the European Union.
The meeting represents a significant step in Tesla’s effort to secure EU-wide acceptance, though approval remains uncertain and timelines are unclear.
Despite its name, FSD (Supervised) is not a fully autonomous driving system but an advanced driver-assistance technology. It allows vehicles to steer, accelerate, and turn independently, while requiring constant human supervision, with drivers expected to remain attentive and ready to intervene.
Rather than pursuing the standard vehicle ‘type-approval’ route in Europe, Tesla is seeking an exemption under Article 39 of EU vehicle regulations.
This pathway allows new technologies not fully covered by existing rules to receive provisional approval from a single member state, pending broader EU authorisation. Tesla has partnered with Dutch Authority RDW, which has previously overseen its European approvals, to lead this process.
Following around 18 months of testing on both public roads and controlled tracks, RDW granted provisional approval for FSD (Supervised) on April 10, allowing its use across roads in the Netherlands. The authority has informed the European Commission of its decision and its intention to seek wider adoption across the bloc.
RDW has chosen not to release detailed testing data, citing restrictions around commercially sensitive information. Documents obtained through public records requests indicate Tesla also pushed to keep certain business details confidential. According to RDW, when used correctly, the system has the potential to enhance road safety.
At present, other EU member states may choose to adopt the Dutch approval on a provisional basis. Tesla has reportedly encouraged several countries to follow suit, although none have done so yet.
The upcoming discussion will take place within the Technical Committee on Motor Vehicles (TCMV), chaired by the European Commission and comprising representatives from EU countries. While no vote is expected during this session, member states will have the opportunity to question RDW’s findings and the basis of its approval.
The TCMV meets periodically, meaning a formal vote could take place as early as July, though a later timeline, possibly after summer or during a tentative October meeting, appears more likely. In the meantime, individual countries may begin their own testing or grant temporary approvals independently.
For the proposal to pass, it must secure a qualified majority, approval from at least 15 of the EU’s 27 member states representing 65 percent of the bloc’s population. If successful, the system could be rolled out across the EU, although dissenting countries may still challenge the decision legally.
If rejected, FSD could still be deployed on a limited, country-by-country basis, though this scenario may be complicated by the EU’s unified market regulations. Should approval be granted, the European Commission would then begin updating vehicle legislation to formally incorporate the new technology into its regulatory framework.
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