Tesla finally launches FSD in the first European country
As we predicted earlier this month, Tesla has finally obtained approval to deploy the Full Self-Driving (FSD) AI software to customer cars in the Netherlands. This is Tesla’s first FSD license in Europe to run FSD on customer cars.
Tesla owners in Europe have been waiting for years to test Full Self-Driving technology in the region. The Dutch vehicle authority RDW analyzed and reviewed Tesla FSD for years before granting the approval.
The Netherlands is also Tesla’s HQ in Europe, and RDW has been comparatively more forward-looking than the other European authorities. However, this first approval will most probably open up FSD for more countries in the near future.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced it on X, saying:
First (supervised) FSD approval in Europe!
Congratulations to the Tesla team and thank you to the regulatory authorities in the Netherlands for all the hard work required to make this happen.
The RDW stated in its official press:
Due to the continuous strict monitoring of the driver in the vehicle, the system is safer than other driver assistance systems. We have thoroughly researched and checked this system, more than a year and a half.
Read complete press release below.
Although FSD was not available to customers in Europe for a long time, many Tesla owners purchased it outright with their vehicles. These Tesla owners were the most eager to use Tesla’s self-driving technology and utilize their investments.
Tesla has discontinued the outright purchase of Full Self-Driving for life in North America. However, the online configurator for the Netherlands shows the option to buy FSD for a one-time price of €7,500.
Tesla customers from the rest of Europe can order FSD for a one-time price. However, there’s no guarantee when the FSD will be available to be used, as there are still regulations to be passed in the European Union. It can be months, and it can be years down the road.
Subscription is also available as an option for €99 per month. By launching FSD in Europe, Tesla has opened a new revenue stream. Optimistic Tesla owners would want to buy it outright, while the cautious ones would want a monthly subscription because of strict regulations that can result in a temporary or permanent ban on FSD in Europe.
Tesla is expected to launch the latest version of FSD in Europe, which is FSD v14.3 as of this writing. This is to ensure the best safety and include European Tesla owners with the latest AI developments added in FSD.
Above: Screenshot of Tesla’s online car configurator for the Netherlands showing both monthly subscription and outright purchase of Full Self-Driving. Source: Tesla NL order configurator.
With the launch of Tesla FSD in Europe, the Dutch RDW also published the following press release. This is basically a short instruction manual and RDW’s stance on allowing Tesla to operate Full Self-Driving in the Netherlands.
Explanation RDW on European type approval
Tesla with provisional validity in the Netherlands
April 10, 2026 – In this message you can read important information about the establishment of this type approval.
The RDW has issued a type approval for Tesla’s driver’s assistance system, FSD Supervised (Full Self Driving Supervised). This driver’s assistance system has been extensively researched and tested on our test track and on public roads for more than a half years.
Safety is paramount for the RDW. The proper use of this driver’s system makes a positive contribution to road safety. A vehicle with FSD Supervised is not self-driving. It is a driver’s aid system and the driver remains responsible and must always maintain control. Due to the type approval, the driver’s assistance system can now be used in the Netherlands, with possible later expansion for all member states of the European Union.
Who is driving and who is responsible?
A driver assistance/supports the driver in his driving duties. FSD Supervised is an advanced driver’s assistance system. This means that vehicles that use FSD Supervised can take over many driving tasks but are NOT autonomous or self-driving. The driver is supported and remains responsible.
This means that he must always participate in traffic. When FSD Supervised is engaged, various sensors monitor whether the driver has his eyes on the road and his hands are available to take over the steering wheel. The hands do not have to be on the steering wheel but should be able to take over the steering wheel immediately if necessary. When the system detects that the driver is not sufficiently alert, various signals go off, requiring the driver to demonstrate to the system that he is alert. It is therefore not allowed or possible to read the newspaper behind the wheel, for example. If the driver is consistently insufficiently alert, the system will point this out to the driver by signals and, in extreme cases, ensure that the system can temporarily no longer be switched on.
Safety is paramount for the RDW. This Tesla driver assistance system supports the driver more than other systems because it takes over multiple driving tasks when it is switched on. Using driver assistance systems properly makes a positive contribution to road safety because the driver is supported in his driving tasks, it is a supplement to the driver. Due to the continuous strict monitoring of the driver in the vehicle, the system is safer than other driver assistance systems. We have thoroughly researched and checked this system, more than a year and a half. Every year we issue approximately 50,000 type approvals for entire vehicles or vehicle parts. Driving assistance systems are also vehicle parts that we assess. More about this can be found in our file on Type approvals.
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Featured image: Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.
Note: This article was published earlier on Tesla Oracle. Author: Iqtidar Ali.
