Tesla's Full Self-Driving gains first EU approval in the Netherlands and seeks regional clearance in Belgium

The Netherlands became the first European country to grant provisional type‑approval for Tesla’s Full Self‑Driving (FSD) system. The Dutch vehicle authority (RDW) completed an 18‑month evaluation covering more than 1.6 million kilometres of testing and approved the software for roughly 44,000 Tesla cars equipped with the required hardware. Drivers can activate FSD via a software update, paying either a €99‑per‑month subscription or a one‑time €7,500 fee. While the system is classified as Level 2 automation, it still requires the driver to keep hands on the wheel and monitor the vehicle.

In Belgium, the Flemish Minister of Mobility Annick De Ridder announced that Tesla has submitted its FSD file to the regional administration and asked for clarification on a possible fast‑track homologation by week’s end. The move could lift the current geo‑fencing that disables FSD at the Dutch border, allowing cross‑border operation once approved. The request coincides with an EU Technical Committee on Motor Vehicles meeting in Brussels, where the RDW’s Article 39 submission for the Netherlands was discussed. A formal EU‑wide vote on the approval is slated for the next TCMV session on June 30.