Tesla FSD in France: on-road trials confirmed as homologation nears

Tesla FSD in France: on-road trials confirmed as homologation nears

A major U-turn. On September 2, 2026, French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot held a video call with Elon Musk about Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD). Following the "constructive" exchange, France announced it will receive two FSD-equipped vehicles for on-road trials — a decisive step toward European approval.

A reversal, barely a month after the refusal

In late July, France's stance was firm. Philippe Tabarot had opposed FSD, arguing that "the safety trade-offs are not yet sufficient" for approval as-is. He notably pointed to a system capable of driving "up to 50% above the speed limit" in some cases, and to insufficient driver monitoring during the most delicate maneuvers (lane changes, roundabouts).

Since then, the tone has shifted. As the minister put it on X: "for several months, the French authorities have been working closely with Tesla on the technical adaptations that will allow France to support its approval."

What France is announcing

  • Two vehicles equipped with FSD will be received for on-road trials.
  • Approval will be decided at the European level, "in the coming weeks".
  • An EU vote is expected in early October 2026.

FSD: supervised driving, not yet autonomous

Despite its name, the FSD sold by Tesla remains a supervised driving system (Level 2 autonomy). The driver must stay attentive and ready to take over at any time, unlike a fully autonomous system such as Waymo. This nuance is central to the European regulatory discussions.

What it changes for drivers

If approval is granted, Tesla owners in France could access FSD's advanced features — city navigation, automatic lane changes, intersection handling — still under supervision. The precise availability timeline remains to be confirmed.

Sources

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