The Netherlands has become the latest country to permit Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) software for public use. The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management confirmed the approval on Thursday, allowing Tesla owners in the country to activate the feature through an over-the-air update. This follows a review process that began earlier this year, during which regulators assessed the system's safety and compliance with local traffic laws.
Tesla's FSD is designed to handle highway and urban driving scenarios, including lane changes, traffic light recognition, and automatic navigation to destinations. The software operates under the supervision of a driver, who must remain attentive and ready to take control at all times. Dutch officials emphasized that the approval comes with strict conditions, including mandatory data reporting from Tesla to monitor the system's performance.
The rollout in the Netherlands will start within weeks, according to Tesla's regional director for Northern Europe. He stated that the company has worked closely with Dutch authorities to address concerns about road safety and data privacy. Tesla owners in the country will receive a notification to enable FSD once the update is available.
This approval marks the Netherlands as the fourth European country to adopt Tesla's self-driving technology, after Germany, France, and Sweden. The expansion reflects growing acceptance of advanced driver-assistance systems in Europe, though critics continue to question the readiness of such technologies for widespread use.
The Dutch government has not yet set a deadline for when the feature must be activated by drivers. Tesla has urged users to familiarize themselves with the software's limitations before enabling it.
Source: tu.no