The Swiss Federal Roads Office (ASTRA) has responded to inquiries about Tesla's "Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised" system, thus outlining Switzerland's advanced but clearly defined position on automated driving. The statement underscores Switzerland's long-standing commitment to innovation while maintaining strict legal standards for driver responsibility.
Switzerland — politically and socially — as well as ASTRA, wants to harness the potential of automation (traffic safety, efficiency, availability, and environmental compatibility) as quickly as possible. For over ten years, the country has operated numerous innovative pilot applications of SAE levels 4 and 5 in real-world 1:1 tests and has created a state-of-the-art road traffic law based on the principle of promoting innovation.
According to Article 31 of the Road Traffic Act (SVG), the driver must always be in control of their vehicle such that they can fulfill their duty of care. This fundamental principle is strictly applied:
ASTRA sees this as a "fair deal" so that customers understand exactly what rights and obligations they have depending on the automation system used. This is considered an absolute prerequisite for the medium- and long-term success of mobility automation.
Tesla's "Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised" is classified by ASTRA as a Level 2+ system. According to Swiss regulations, the letter emphasizes that Level 2 systems are installed in many products, available on the market, and in use hundreds of thousands of times. They can provide additional safety, provided drivers are clearly informed that they remain fully responsible at all times and must maintain their full and undivided attention. Otherwise, drivers might mistakenly assume the system is driverless, which could lead to dangerous situations.
This positioning aligns with similar clarifications from other European countries. Czechia and Romania have also emphasized that the provisional RDW approval is nationally valid and does not imply Europe-wide recognition of Level 3 capabilities.