The Netherlands is set to become the first country in Europe to permit owners of Tesla vehicles to use the company’s self-driving feature, provided drivers remain inside the car and actively monitor its operation.
In a statement released late Friday, the Dutch roadworthiness authority, RDW, confirmed the development.
“Thanks to the type approval, the driver assistance system can now be used in the Netherlands, with possible future expansion to all member states of the European Union.”
The decision brings the Netherlands in line with the United States, where Tesla drivers already have access to the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) function. The system allows the car’s software to handle tasks such as steering, braking, navigation, and parking, while the driver remains attentive and ready to intervene when necessary.
Reacting to the announcement, Tesla’s European division, under the leadership of Elon Musk, welcomed the move. “FSD Supervised has been approved in the Netherlands & will begin rolling out in the country shortly!” the company said on X. “No other vehicle can do this. We’re excited to bring FSD Supervised to more European countries soon.”
Despite the approval, RDW emphasised that the system does not qualify as fully autonomous driving technology. “A vehicle with FSD Supervised is not self-driving. It is a driver assistance system, and the driver remains responsible and must always maintain control,” it said.
The agency added that its decision will still require endorsement from the European Commission to grant the certification validity across the European Union.
Tesla has, however, faced declining momentum in parts of Europe, including the Netherlands, in recent years. Analysts point to a mix of factors, including backlash against Musk’s political involvement in the US and Germany, as well as mounting competition from Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers.
