Tesla Accused of Misleading European Regulators on Full Self-Driving Safety
Tesla reportedly presented misleading safety statistics on Full Self-Driving to European regulators in late 2024, claiming the system was up to ten times safer than human driving based on comparisons researchers found scientifically invalid and exaggerated.
What happened
Tesla presented safety statistics on Full Self-Driving (FSD) to Swedish and Dutch regulators, including the Dutch transportation authority RDW, in late 2024. According to Reuters reporting, the statistics were disputed by independent road safety researchers as presenting a misleading view of the system's capabilities.
Reported impact
Tesla's comparisons claimed that FSD was up to ten times safer than human driving, but independent researchers determined these comparisons were not scientifically valid and led to overestimation of the system's safety.
Governance controls
The RDW stated it does not base decisions on advertising claims or external data, and conducts evaluation through independent testing, analysis and inspections on public roads and test tracks. The Dutch authority approved FSD use in April 2026 following over one year of testing and discussions with Tesla, and is now seeking approval at the European Union level.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.