France blocks Tesla FSD over safety concerns
France's government formally blocked Tesla's Full Self-Driving system, citing inadequate safety measures including the system's tendency to exceed speed limits by up to 50 percent and insufficient monitoring of drivers during critical maneuvers. The decision affects thousands of French Tesla owners who purchased the feature but cannot now use it.
What happened
France's Ministry of Transport, led by Minister Philippe Tabarot, formally blocked Tesla's Full Self-Driving system from operation in France. The decision came as other European countries, including the Netherlands, Lithuania, Estonia, Denmark, and Belgium, had already approved the supervised autonomous driving system.
Reported impact
Buyers in France who paid 7,500 euros upfront for the FSD feature or subscribed at 99 euros per month will be unable to use the system. The block affects existing Tesla owners who purchased the option in anticipation of regulatory approval.
Index analysis
The Ministry cited two main safety concerns: the system's tendency to exceed speed limits by up to 50 percent above posted restrictions, and insufficient driver monitoring during critical maneuvers such as lane changes, intersections, and roundabouts. One journalist reported receiving a fine for driving 78 km/h in a 50 km/h zone while using FSD Standard mode without requesting acceleration. However, the articles note that some Tesla owners on Reddit report the opposite problem: FSD strictly adheres to speed limits, potentially obstructing traffic flow.
Governance controls
Minister Tabarot stated that 'safety counterparts are not yet sufficient for authorization in its current state.' Sweden was also reported to be questioning the system, particularly regarding its speed limit violations.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.