Tesla FSD faces EU regulatory scrutiny over safety concerns
European regulators from multiple countries have expressed safety concerns about Tesla's Full Self-Driving system, citing issues with speeding tendency, icy road safety, and driver distraction safeguards. The Dutch road authority approved FSD in April 2026 but EU-wide approval requires committee support, with regulatory skepticism documented in previously undisclosed emails.
What happened
Regulatory agencies in the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway raised concerns about Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system in previously undisclosed emails obtained by Reuters through public records requests.
The Dutch road authority RDW approved FSD in April 2026 and is seeking EU approval, with a key committee hearing scheduled for 5 May 2026.
Reported impact
European regulators questioned the system's safety benefits and raised specific concerns about FSD's tendency to exceed speed limits, whether it is safe to use on icy roads, and whether drivers can bypass features designed to prevent phone use.
Index analysis
Tesla leadership has publicly stated confidence that the EU will approve FSD soon. However, the disclosed regulatory emails show skepticism about the technology and its claimed safety benefits.
Regulators also expressed concern about Tesla's strategy of publicly encouraging vehicle owners to pressure regulatory bodies to approve FSD.
Governance controls
FSD approval requires affirmative votes from committee members representing 55% of EU member states and 65% of the EU population. The next scheduled committee meetings are expected in July and October 2026.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.