Dutch Regulator Approves Tesla FSD and Urges EU Adoption

The Dutch road regulator Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer has approved Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system and is now advocating for its adoption across the European Union. However, the agency refuses to release the safety data or evaluation methods used for the approval, citing a need to protect Tesla's commercial secrets. This decision aligns with the automaker's own demands to keep documentation confidential.

This lack of transparency has drawn criticism from safety experts and the European Transport Safety Council, who argue that public safety outweighs trade secrets. While Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer claims it conducted independent testing rather than relying on Tesla's statistics, regulators in Norway, Germany, and Denmark have similarly withheld FSD data. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration noted that Tesla's published safety statistics appear more favorable than the data currently under regulatory review.

The system faces a potential EU-wide vote in October, but consensus remains elusive. France has already indicated it will not approve FSD in its current form, citing concerns over speeding and driver attentiveness. Similarly, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency questioned whether drivers could safely retake control after FSD errors on steep or windy roads.