Finland’s transport and communications agency Traficom said it could clear Tesla’s FSD (Supervised) driver assistance system before a European Union (EU)-wide decision expected in October.
The authority said its review is based on the provisional type-approval issued in April 2026 by the Dutch vehicle approval body RDW.
The Netherlands became the first country in Europe to approve the system, while Estonia and Belgium are among the EU member states that have since accepted that decision.
An EU-level vote at the Technical Committee – Motor Vehicles (TCMV), which sits under the European Commission, is due in October this year.
However, individual member states are allowed to recognise a national approval before that committee vote takes place.
Traficom said it could move more quickly after the summer if it receives the additional information it needs on the main assessment issues.
Tesla’s FSD (Supervised) differs from conventional driver assistance technology because it does not require the driver to be physically engaged at all times while the feature is in use.
Even so, it is not treated as an automated driving system, and the driver must stay attentive and be ready to take over immediately.
The pending system approval applies only to newer Tesla models with latest-generation hardware, affecting roughly 6,500 vehicles in Finland.
Traficom said the system allows a speed offset of as much as 50% above the detected speed limit, although on motorways it cannot travel faster than the legal maximum of 120km/h.
The agency also pointed to areas of concern in its assessment, including how the system performs during overtaking on two-way roads with curves and changes in elevation, and how it manages slippery road surfaces at higher speeds.
The TCMV is due to examine the approval procedure on 30 June 2026.
If the European Commission grants EU type-approval with an exemption for the technology, existing rules would need to be revised. That legislative process is expected to take around two years, after which the technology could be opened up to all carmakers.
Self-driving vehicles are expected to appear on Finnish roads from 2028.
Senior specialist Jukka Juhola said: “Traficom has been actively assessing the national approval granted by the Netherlands and has discussed the matter with both the manufacturer and the Dutch approval authority.
“However, our examination is still ongoing and Traficom has not yet been able to decide whether to recognise the approval in Finland.”
