A planned European Union vote on Tesla’s supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) system has been delayed, with an EU-wide decision now unlikely before December. The development could affect Tesla’s plans to expand its driver-assistance technology across Europe.
The EU’s Technical Committee on Motor Vehicles (TCMV) was expected to potentially vote on Tesla’s request during its October 6 meeting. However, the published agenda lists only a “continuation of discussions” about the Dutch regulator’s request for an Article 39 authorisation. The meeting has only 25 minutes allocated for the topic.
The Dutch vehicle regulator RDW approved Tesla’s supervised FSD system in April and has proposed allowing the authorisation across the EU. Belgium and several other European countries have also approved the system for use under local conditions.
Tesla had previously said an EU-wide vote could take place on October 6. However, the latest committee agenda suggests that a decision may not happen during the October meeting. The next scheduled TCMV meeting after October is in December, making it the earliest apparent opportunity for a vote based on the current schedule.
For an EU-wide approval, Tesla needs a qualified majority of member states. This requires support from at least 15 of the EU’s 27 countries, representing 65% of the bloc’s population.
The technology has also faced concerns in some European countries. Sweden and other nations have questioned whether Tesla’s FSD system could operate in situations where vehicles exceed speed limits. Countries that have approved the system have stressed that drivers remain responsible for following traffic laws.
Tesla sees regulatory approval as important for expanding FSD in Europe. The company is also trying to strengthen its position in the European electric vehicle market, where competition from Chinese EV manufacturers continues to increase.
The delayed vote means Tesla may have to wait longer for a potential EU-wide expansion of its supervised self-driving system.
