Tesla FSD Europe: Germany Backs EU Approval, Vote Slips

Tesla’s driver-assistance software just gained a heavyweight ally in Europe. On October 6, 2026, German transport minister Steffen Bilger said he wants FSD (Supervised) approved across the EU in a timely manner, according to heise, citing dpa. If an EU deal fails, Germany would look at what it can do on its own.

What Germany agreed with Tesla

• After talks in September, Germany and Tesla agreed the system may drive up to 10% above the speed limit, a position Germany will defend in Brussels (Reuters, via The Next Web)
• Tesla offered to rename it “Tesla Assisted Driving”, as the ministry sees “Full Self-Driving” as misleading
• Germany has not approved the system nationally yet; the KBA wants to test a Tesla itself

Where approval stands

The Dutch regulator RDW granted a provisional approval on April 10, 2026. By the end of September, Lithuania, Estonia, Denmark, Belgium, Slovenia and the Czech Republic had adopted it, around 12% of the EU population including the Netherlands, per heise. EU-wide approval needs a qualified majority in the TCMV committee: 55% of member states representing 65% of the population. The October 6 meeting only continued the discussion, so a vote is expected in December at the earliest. Sweden and France are among the countries worried about speeding.

The Reuters investigation

On October 7 a Reuters special report described Tesla’s lobbying campaign. Seven independent traffic-safety researchers told Reuters that Tesla’s European study does not show FSD prevents fatal crashes, as summarised by InsideEVs. The RDW said its exchanges with Tesla were a routine part of the assessment.

Rocks take

Germany’s support matters for the population threshold, but the speed tolerance is exactly what worries other states. Remember that FSD (Supervised) is a driver-assistance system: the driver stays responsible at all times.