France blocks Tesla's Full Self-Driving approval, sparking EU debate

French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot publicly rejected the provisional EU approval of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised system, citing safety risks such as possible speeding – the software could drive at 70 km/h in a 50 km/h zone – and inadequate driver‑monitoring in complex traffic. The Netherlands granted the first exemption for the technology in April, followed by Belgium, Denmark, Estonia and Lithuania, which allowed limited use on public roads. France’s objection is the first major EU member state to oppose the rollout, though it cannot unilaterally block an EU‑wide decision. Tesla CEO Elon Musk replied on X that delaying the approval “costs lives”. Finnish regulator Traficom is also reviewing a possible national endorsement.