Tesla’s plan to bring Full Self-Driving to Europe is moving forward with a specific target in mind. The company intends to get regulatory approval in the Netherlands by February 2026, followed by a broader European rollout in the second quarter of 2026. This strategy focuses on getting national approval first through the Dutch vehicle authority RDW, then using that as a foundation for expanding across the European Union.
Tesla has been preparing for this launch for over a year. The company’s completed more than 1 million kilometers of safe internal testing on European roads. They’ve also performed supervised testing in cities like Amsterdam and Paris. Demonstrations have been provided to regulators in nearly every EU country as part of the approval process. Recent advancements in FSD v14 have significantly improved the technology’s performance, with fewer critical disengagements compared to prior versions. Tesla’s rollout timeline aligns with the European Commission fast-tracking of autonomous vehicle regulations to accelerate approval processes. These refinements underscore ongoing software development efforts designed to meet Europe’s demanding safety standards.
The company’s approach involves using Article 39 exemptions to steer Europe’s complex regulatory scheme. Tesla is specifically requesting exemptions for behaviors like system-initiated lane changes, which aren’t currently regulated in Europe. New European legislation allowing these system-initiated maneuvers will take effect on September 26, 2025, which could help smooth the approval process. Tesla is positioning itself to capitalize on regulatory changes facilitating advanced driver assistance features ahead of competitors.
However, regulators aren’t necessarily ready. European regulations require strict compliance with existing safety structures. Tesla representatives have described some vehicle operation regulations as outdated, but Europe still maintains stringent automotive safety standards that must be met. The regulatory environment is also complex because different countries have different requirements. Currently, FSD still requires driver supervision and is not fully autonomous, which may influence how European regulators evaluate the technology.
Tesla’s strategy includes mobilizing European owners to contact Dutch regulators in support of FSD approval. The company believes successful approval would greatly expand its European market reach. FSD has already performed better than expected during road trials in the United States and is currently available in six countries worldwide.
If approved, Tesla plans to charge either $12,000 upfront or $99 monthly for FSD in Europe. This pricing model matches what’s offered in North America. Success in Europe could accelerate autonomous driving adoption across the continent and give Tesla a competitive advantage over traditional European automakers in advanced driving assistance technology. The next twelve months will be pivotal in determining whether European regulators are ready to approve this technology.