Tesla Obtains Approval for FSD Supervised System in the Netherlands: What Really Changes for Driving in Europe

Tesla has obtained an important approval in the Netherlands for its "Full Self-Driving Supervised" (FSD Supervised) system, marking the first official authorization in Europe for this driver assistance technology. The Dutch authority RDW has issued a type approval based on the UN R-171 regulation, which governs driver control assistance systems.

The green light comes after over 18 months of intensive testing, during which the system was evaluated over more than 1.6 million kilometers driven on European roads, with over 13,000 tests with users and thousands of simulated scenarios. Tesla also submitted documentation for over 400 regulatory requirements, demonstrating the system's compliance with European standards.

Despite the approval, authorities have firmly clarified that FSD Supervised is not an autonomous driving system. It is a Level 2 system, classified as a Driver Control Assistance System (DCAS), which can manage many driving functions but requires constant human supervision. The driver remains legally responsible at all times and must be ready to intervene immediately.

Additional Details on Tesla's New System

The system uses sensors to monitor the driver's attention, including eye-tracking. In case of distraction, alerts are issued, and if necessary, the system can temporarily deactivate. European regulations also impose specific measures to prevent excessive reliance on technology, such as visual, auditory, and haptic feedback.

The approval is currently valid only in the Netherlands. Other European countries may choose to recognize it at the national level, but there is no automatic extension to the entire European Union. Germany, France, and Italy could be among the first to evaluate the system, with possible decisions within a few weeks. An important element concerns the differences compared to the United States.

In Europe, systems must obtain prior approval before being used on the road, whereas in the USA, Tesla can distribute software updates without preliminary authorizations.

There is no shortage of criticism, especially on the communication front. Tesla has claimed that no other vehicle offers similar capabilities, but authorities remind that other manufacturers, such as BMW and Ford, already have comparable systems approved in Europe.