Tesla wins first European approval for supervised self-driving software in Netherlands

RDW emphasized that vehicles using the system are not fully autonomous. Drivers must maintain attention and readiness to intervene. The system monitors driver alertness and can disable itself if it detects insufficient attention. Looking away to check phones or read remains prohibited.

The Dutch approval differs significantly from the US version already available to American drivers. RDW noted that European Union safety requirements exceed US standards, making the European FSD Supervised version incomparable to its American counterpart, though specific differences were not detailed.

Tesla now seeks European Union-wide authorization. RDW will submit an application to the European Commission, which requires approval from a majority of the responsible committee. The timeline for broader EU approval remains unclear.

Approximately 100,000 Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in the Netherlands would be eligible for the FSD software upgrade. Tesla is the most popular electric vehicle manufacturer in the Dutch market.

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

Seth Goldstein, analyst — Morningstar

Tesla shares rose 0.7% in after-hours trading following the announcement, though the stock remains down 23% year-to-date, underperforming broader US markets. The company faces ongoing federal investigations and consumer lawsuits in the United States related to crashes and traffic violations involving its self-driving technology.

Other automakers including Mercedes, Ford, and BMW have introduced hands-free driving systems, primarily on select German highways at limited speeds. Tesla's camera-and-AI approach differs from competitors who typically use multiple hardware sensors to monitor driving environments.