Tesla shares in focus: How the car manufacturer is accelerating the start of full self-driving in Europe

• Tesla continues to expand FSD testing in Europe
• Strict RDW tests delay EU approval
• FSD is intended to strengthen sales and competitiveness

Background: Tesla’s long-term plan for FSD in Europe

Tesla has been working for years to make its full self-driving technology available to European drivers. But the path to get there is much longer than initially expected: Elon Musk had already spoken in 2019 that EU approval could be possible within six to twelve months – a time frame that has clearly been exceeded to date. At the same time, Europe remains a central market for the electric car manufacturer in which Tesla sees great potential. Still, stricter testing procedures and a more cautious regulatory environment are slowing adoption, as Business Insider highlights in an article.

Expansion of testing activities: new operator jobs and data collection

In order to prepare for the European launch of full self-driving, Tesla is currently significantly expanding its testing infrastructure. According to Teslarati, the company has advertised new positions for so-called vehicle operators in Prague – in addition to existing positions in Berlin, Prüm and Budapest. These roles are clearly focused on data collection for FSD and are not part of the Robotaxi program. The tasks include evaluating driving data, creating daily reports and providing continuous feedback to optimize data collection, each for a period of one year. The aim of these measures is to collect as extensive and high-quality data as possible, which will serve as the basis for European approval.

EU approval process: The “regulatory bottleneck” Netherlands

The crucial bottleneck on the way to a Europe-wide introduction of full self-driving lies in the Netherlands. The RDW is the authority responsible for EU-wide type approval – and checks with particular caution and data-intensiveness, as Business Insider says. To make progress, Tesla has been meeting with Dutch auditors weekly since 2024 and is pushing for faster processes. But despite this intensive exchange, the RDW has so far only approved nine vehicles for testing. At the same time, Tesla is also working under strict regulatory requirements on test programs in Norway and Denmark, where similar strict requirements apply.

Lines of conflict: Tesla’s pressure vs. European cautionary logic

The introduction of full self-driving is developing into an area of ​​tension between Tesla’s fast pace and cautious European regulation. As Business Insider reports, Tesla classifies the project internally as “mission critical” and criticizes what the company sees as excessive “layers of bureaucracy” within the EU. At the same time, the Dutch RDW requires extensive testing – from cybersecurity and software update management to EMV testing and strictly controlled over-the-air updates. Unlike in the USA, Tesla cannot certify its systems itself in Europe, but is dependent on official approvals. For Elon Musk, this process remains “very frustrating” and, in his view, even hinders security for Europe – a central point of criticism.

Meaning for Tesla: competitive pressure, weak sales – and hope for FSD

For Tesla, Full Self-Driving has long been more than just a technology project – it is seen as a potential growth driver in a phase of declining sales in Europe, Business Insider continues. In addition, pressure is increasing from Chinese competitors such as BYD, who are gaining market share in several markets. In order to advance approval, Tesla is relying on a charm offensive: meetings with the RDW, presentation days for authorities and high-profile driving videos from European cities are intended to create trust and demonstrate progress. At the same time, Elon Musk emphasizes that the company is still waiting for final EU approval – a decision that the Dutch RDW has not yet made.

Editorial team finanzen.net

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