Dutch Regulator Withholds Tesla FSD Safety Data Amid Transparency Concerns
The Dutch road regulator RDW approved Tesla's Full Self-Driving system and has advocated for EU adoption, but has refused to disclose the safety evaluation details, citing Tesla's commercial secrets. Vehicle-safety experts have warned that the lack of transparency could undermine public trust and raise safety concerns.
What happened
Four months before August 2026, the Netherlands approved Tesla's Full Self-Driving system. RDW said it conducted extensive testing on closed tracks and public roads in various conditions, but has not disclosed how it measured performance or safety.
Since late 2024, Tesla pressed RDW to keep documentation about the FSD safety review secret, according to email correspondence obtained by Reuters. RDW told Reuters that releasing such details would violate Tesla's commercial secrets.
Reported impact
European vehicle-safety law experts say RDW is withholding far too much information under the guise of trade secrets, potentially at the expense of public safety. Details on RDW's testing and Tesla's performance are matters of broad public interest.
Index analysis
Tesla has faced regulatory investigations and lawsuits over FSD-involved crashes in the United States for years. Reuters reported in June that Tesla had shared inflated FSD-safety data from the United States with several EU regulators including RDW as it sought approval.
Governance controls
European regulators have historically been more cautious about automated driving than the United States, requiring automakers to get approval before deploying driver-assistance systems such as FSD.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.