The European FSD push is gathering momentum
Whilst Tesla owners in North America have been enjoying the benefits of the FSD (Supervised) software for some time now, Europe has long been left out in the cold due to strict legal requirements. But the tide is turning: following recent pilot projects in other European countries, there are growing signs that Tesla is now setting its sights on a third European country to put autonomous driving through its paces on local roads.
Most recently, approvals in the north and west caused a stir. For instance, the breakthrough in Belgium: Tesla FSD (Supervised) launches pilot project in Flanders showed that national authorities are becoming increasingly open to test licences. Decisive steps have also already been taken in the Baltic states, as the article Tesla FSD conquers Europe: Estonia gives the green light impressively demonstrates. Now, there are growing indications that another Western European country is on the verge of officially approving limited fleet testing.
The UNECE’s regulatory hurdle course
However, a widespread rollout in Europe is by no means a foregone conclusion. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) regulates driver assistance systems extremely strictly. Manufacturers must demonstrate that the systems meet European safety standards and do not relieve the driver of responsibility.
The analysis No approval in passing: Why EU approval for Tesla FSD (Supervised) is not a foregone conclusion. Nevertheless, Tesla skilfully utilises country-specific exemptions to collect real-world driving data on European roads, which is essential for training the neural network.
Tesla FSD vs. Waymo: Two worlds collide
Whilst Tesla relies on a camera-based ‘vision-only’ approach, which is extremely cost-effective to scale, its competitor Waymo (Alphabet) is taking the route of expensive LiDAR and radar sensors. Waymo is currently expanding rapidly in the US and represents a technological benchmark. For the European market, the question arises as to which system will prevail in the long term.
Outlook: Roadster rumours and the Model Y 'Long' myth
Alongside advances in autonomous driving, the rumour mill is also buzzing regarding the hardware