Tesla promotes FSD system in Europe with controversial safety data
Tesla is using aggressive advertising in Europe for its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, but the safety data it employs is facing criticism. According to a report by ecomento.de, the US automaker advertises with statistics that supposedly prove the superiority of its assistance system. However, experts and regulatory authorities question the methodology behind this data.
The controversial safety data
Tesla regularly publishes a safety report comparing accident numbers of vehicles with and without Autopilot. In Europe, it now specifically markets FSD – claiming that accidents with FSD activated are less frequent than without. Critics argue that Tesla fails to disclose how many kilometers were actually driven with FSD and whether the data considers comparable conditions.
Differences between markets
In the USA, Tesla's FSD system is already widely used, while in Europe it is still subject to strict regulations. The following table summarizes the key differences:
The data basis in Europe is significantly smaller, limiting the validity of Tesla's safety promises.
Criticism from experts
Traffic experts and data protection advocates criticize that Tesla uses statistical tricks. It only counts accidents with FSD activated, while cases where the system gave up control or was deactivated are ignored. Additionally, it does not account for whether FSD is mainly used on simple road sections, which inherently lowers accident probability.
Further details on Tesla's controversial data practices can be found in our article Tesla FSD: Authorities accuse automaker of questionable safety statistics.
Reaction from EU regulators
The European Commission has established a working group to review Tesla's data. Concurrently, consumer advocates demand transparent disclosure of all parameters. "Tesla must not advertise safety when the methodology is opaque," stated a spokesperson for the authority.
Germany's Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt) is also examining whether Tesla's FSD system meets European safety standards. Details can be found in our report Tesla apparently submits misleading FSD safety data to EU regulators.
Outlook
If the EU bans Tesla's advertising, it could further delay the launch of FSD in Europe. Tesla, on the other hand, hopes to release enhanced FSD functions for European customers by 2025. Whether safety concerns can be resolved remains to be seen.