The Dutch vehicle authority RDW has issued European type approval with provisional validity for Tesla’s driver assistance system, full self-driving (FSD) supervised, permitting its deployment within the Netherlands.
According to RDW, the driver-operated assistance system underwent extensive evaluation over a period exceeding 18 months.
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Testing was conducted on both controlled tracks and public roads before the approval was granted.
The regulator stressed that FSD supervised does not qualify as an autonomous driving system.
Instead, it is classified as an advanced driver assistance system, where the driver retains full responsibility and must remain actively engaged at all times.
The system incorporates monitoring features that assess driver attention, including sensors that track eye movement and readiness to assume control.
If insufficient attentiveness is detected, warnings are issued, and the system can be temporarily deactivated.
This approval allows the use of FSD supervised within the Netherlands, with the possibility of broader deployment across the European Union (EU) at a later stage.
In its statement, the RDW said: “Tesla’s driver-controlled assistance system supports the driver more than other systems because, when enabled, it takes over multiple driving tasks.
“Using driver assistance systems correctly makes a positive contribution to road safety because the driver is supported in their driving tasks; it is a supplement to the driver. Through continuous strict monitoring of the driver in the vehicle, the system is safer than other driver assistance systems.”
The authority also pointed to differences in regulatory frameworks between regions.
In the EU, vehicles must receive prior European type approval from designated authorities such as RDW.
In contrast, the US follows a self-certification model, with compliance monitored after deployment.
It further highlighted that European vehicles operate on different software configurations, meaning the EU version of FSD supervised is not directly comparable to the version available in the US.
RDW added that approvals for advanced driver assistance systems are already in place for other manufacturers, including BMW and Ford, although their scope varies across EU member states.
The current authorisation applies only within the Netherlands.
For EU-wide implementation, RDW must submit a formal application to the European Commission, after which member states will vote.
Approval requires a majority within the relevant committee before the system can be introduced across the bloc.
