Dutch regulators approved the use of Tesla’s self-driving software with required human supervision on highways and city streets in a European first for the electric car maker, which hopes to see similar action from the rest of the European Union.
Wide FSD adoption is central to Tesla’s growth strategy. Much of the company’s US$1 trillion (RM3.96 trillion) valuation hinges on Chief Executive Elon Musk’s bet that artificial-intelligence-driven self-driving software and robotaxis will become a major revenue stream.
The Netherlands’ approval for the technology, called Full Self-Driving Supervised, which can steer, brake and accelerate a car, follows more than 18 months of tests and analysis by the Dutch vehicle authority RDW.
“Proper use of this driver assistance system makes a positive contribution to road safety,” RDW said in a statement yesterday, adding that it would also submit an application for the technology to be used throughout the EU.
Tesla is also counting on self-driving software to boost vehicle sales, which have slowed in Europe due to its aging EV lineup and Musk’s far-right political rhetoric that has alienated some consumers. Tesla’s sales in Europe rose in February for the first time in more than a year.
“I expect FSD approval by the Dutch authority and subsequent European regulators will lead to improved sales in Europe over the coming months as consumers are excited to try FSD,” said Morningstar analyst Seth Goldstein.
Tesla shares rose about 0.7 per cent in aftermarket trading yesterday. Its shares have fallen 23 per cent this year, lagging the US stock market.
“We’re excited to bring FSD Supervised to more European countries soon,” Tesla said in a post on social media platform X, adding that it will start rolling out the technology in the Netherlands shortly.
The software is already available as a subscription for US drivers, where it is also facing consumer lawsuits and federal investigations after crashes and reports of traffic violations.
RDW said the EU sets stricter requirements for safety during vehicle approvals than the US “This means that the FSD Supervised version in the US is NOT comparable to the FSD Supervised version in the EU,” it said, without providing further details.
