Dutch safety agency urges Tesla fans to stop pressuring over Full Self-Driving (Supervised) approval

Dutch regulator RDW disputes FSD approval claim

The Dutch safety agency urges Tesla fans to stop pressuring for FSD supervised approval, following a miscommunication. Tesla’s European account on X posted on November 24, 2025, stating that RDW has committed to granting national approval in the Netherlands by February 2026, a claim that RDW later said was not a commitment.

The RDW quickly clarified that no commitment was made. Feb. 2026 is only the target for Tesla to demonstrate FSD compliance, not for authorization. Approval for FSD in Europe is governed by EU Regulation 2018/858.

RDW asks Tesla fans to stop contacting customer service agency

Following the post, the Dutch authority RDW made a specific request for Tesla enthusiasts to stop contacting their customer service lines. The RDW stated such inquiries take up unnecessary time for their team and will have absolutely no influence on the FSD approval decision.

The regulator emphasized that its decision is based solely on road safety and technical assessment. The RDW’s official website noted that complex file checks for new applications can cost manufacturers €1,532.00 as part of the total testing and certification process fees.

EU exemption process under regulation 2018/858

The RDW, as mentioned, processes new vehicle technology approvals. For a new, unregulated technology like FSD to get EU approval, the manufacturer first seeks an exemption under Article 39 of EU Regulation 2018/858.

This article allows approval for new concepts that are incompatible with existing regulatory acts, provided a safety-equivalent level is ensured. The approval authority shall grant the exemption if the maker presents test results proving equivalent safety.

If the Commission authorizes an exemption after a TCMV vote, the resulting EU type-approval must be valid for at least 36 months.

Testing requirements for European FSD deployment

Before the Netherlands’ RDW can submit an exemption request to the European Commission, Tesla must complete this approval process. The European process for automated systems requires conformance with R155 (cybersecurity) and R156 (software updates). Level 2 systems, such as FSD (Supervised), follow DCAS rules (UN R171); Level 3 ALKS systems follow UN R157.

Processing applications for connected and automated vehicle systems often takes longer, with the RDW listing the current lead time for WVTA/systems M1/N1 certificates at 43 days. This certification time does not include the lengthy testing period.

Previous FSD target dates missed in Europe

The ongoing delays in the type-approval process are a pattern for Tesla. Tesla’s push for FSD supervised approval in Europe has faced delays for several years due to strict regulations. Previous timelines set by the company or suggested by its CEO have not been met.

For example, in early 2022, CEO Elon Musk had stated that Tesla would launch FSD in Europe during that summer. Tesla has conducted over 1 million kilometers of FSD test drives across 17 EU countries. The system was first announced for the global market in a beta version on Oct. 20, 2020.

FSD supervised features and subscription cost

Despite the timeline delays noted, FSD-supervised remains available in North America. Full Self-Driving is a Level 2 software package that enables automated steering on city streets and responds to traffic lights, but requires constant driver supervision.

The system is available as a subscription of $99/month in the U.S. after Tesla reduced the price from $199 on April 13, 2024. This subscription enables users to access the FSD feature, provided their vehicles are equipped with the FSD computer 3.0 or later.

RDW’s critical EU committee role for approval

The RDW’s role extends to the European Commission. Once the RDW grants national type-approval in the Netherlands, the official process is forwarded to the European Commission for a final vote by the Technical Committee for Motor Vehicles (TCMV).

This committee is where EU member states vote to approve the exemption for use across all EU nations. The RDW acts as a critical gateway; if the TCMV vote does not reach a majority in favor, the FSD technology’s exemption is only valid within the Netherlands.

Mercedes-Benz Level 3 approval of Drive Pilot

Mercedes-Benz was the first manufacturer to receive an internationally valid type approval for its SAE Level 3 system, called Drive Pilot, at the end of 2021. This Level 3 system allows the driver to take their eyes off the road entirely in certain conditions.

Drive Pilot can be used on German motorways at speeds of up to 95 km/h in dense traffic situations. The cost for the optional system starts at €5,950 for the S-Class in Germany.

UNECE regulation no. 157 and compliance data

The Level 3 approval granted to Mercedes-Benz required compliance with UNECE Regulation No. 157 (R157FSD-supervised systems are compared to Level 3 systems, which must comply with R157 for EU-wide approval).

R157 focuses on Automated Lane Keeping Systems and transfers legal responsibility from the driver to the car manufacturer when the system is in active use. More than 50 UNECE member states have adopted this regulation. Tesla’s Q2 2025 safety report showed one crash for every 6.69 million miles driven while Autopilot technology was engaged.

Global FSD deployment and mileage data

The high mileage data reflects the growing global usage of Tesla’s automated systems. FSD (Supervised) is available in the U.S., Canada, China, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Australia, and New Zealand. Tesla announced Australia & New Zealand availability on Sept. 18, 2025

On the Q1 2024 earnings call, Elon Musk stated that the FSD stack had been deployed to 1.8 million vehicles; industry trackers estimated that cumulative FSD miles would reach around 1.3 billion by late April 2024.

Volkswagen’s approach to highly automated driving

Another company, unlike Tesla, that is making significant progress is Volkswagen. In contrast to Tesla’s vision-only approach, other companies, such as Volkswagen, are focusing on highly automated driving using various methods.

Volkswagen is collaborating with Bosch to develop a platform that will introduce new driving functions for semi-automated and highly automated driving in Europe.

For the US and Europe, Volkswagen is preparing for the series approval of the driverless VW ID. Buzz AD shuttle vehicle. The ID. Buzz AD carries a maximum of six passengers in its autonomous mobility service pilot project in Hamburg, Germany.

See how Tesla is improving the look and clarity of its self-driving system in Tesla places Unreal Engine to enhance FSD visualizations.

NHTSA investigation and safety reports

Safety concerns remain a focus for regulators. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been actively investigating the safety of Tesla’s advanced driver assistance systems. In Oct. 2025, the NHTSA opened an investigation into approximately 2.88 million FSD-equipped Tesla vehicles.

This probe was initiated after the agency reviewed more than 50 reports of traffic safety violations and crashes. NHTSA data from 2023 shows that there was an automobile crash in the United States approximately every 702,000 miles driven.

Then check the deeper technical changes that improve driving behavior in Tesla rolls out FSD Supervised v14 with major self-driving upgrades.

Should fans influence safety decisions, or step back? Share your thoughts below.

Read More From This Brand:

• U.S. regulators investigate Tesla’s ‘Mad Max’ driver-assistance mode in FSD
• Tesla faces federal probe into 2.9 million vehicles over FSD traffic-violation reports
• Tesla Model Y completes 13,577-km Australia lap with FSD Supervised under driver oversight

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.