France blocks Tesla's Full Self-Driving system pending safety concerns

France’s transport minister Philippe Tabarot announced that the country will not approve Tesla’s Full Self‑Driving (FSD) driver‑assistance software in its current form, citing safety trade‑offs that are not yet sufficient. In a video statement he highlighted the system’s ability to exceed speed limits and its failure to guarantee driver attention in urban traffic, lane changes, intersections and roundabouts.

The French stance is the first public rejection by an EU member of the Dutch‑led initiative to grant bloc‑wide approval. The Netherlands’ road authority (RDW) provisionally approved FSD in April, followed by Belgium, Denmark, Estonia and Lithuania. Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk responded on X that “delaying the approval of FSD in France will cost lives.” France said it will continue technical discussions with the Netherlands, other EU states and Tesla while maintaining its safety‑first approach.

The dispute affects Tesla’s European market strategy, where the FSD feature is a key sales and revenue driver, and it underscores divergent regulatory attitudes toward autonomous‑driving technology across the EU.