Sunita Somvanshi
The UK has effectively blocked Tesla’s full self-driving (FSD) technology from European roads, intensifying Elon Musk’s regulatory frustrations as the company faces declining sales across the region.
Regulatory Hurdles Mount
Department for Transport (DfT) officials have actively worked to limit advanced driver assistance systems throughout Europe, according to documents obtained by The Telegraph. The restrictions require drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and confine the system to basic highway maneuvers rather than allowing complex urban driving capabilities.
“Introducing system-initiated maneuvers is a significant step which entails a degree of unknown,” UK officials stated in September. “Whilst [a driver assistance system] may help in reducing collisions, it may also introduce new safety risks.”
This intervention happened during United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) meetings, where the UK, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands collectively requested further evidence on driver assistance systems’ safety in January.
“The technological advancements in these systems are promising, but there remain concerns about their impact on driver behavior, situational awareness and overall safety,” their joint statement noted.
Bad Timing for Tesla
The regulatory pushback comes at a particularly difficult time for Tesla. The company’s shares have fallen by almost a third this year amid sales declines in key markets.
Musk has positioned autonomous driving technology as Tesla’s main growth engine, telling investors that autonomy will be “the main driver” of the company’s value. The CEO has publicly criticized Europe’s regulatory environment, stating in January that “Europe is a layer cake of regulations of bureaucracy, which really needs to be addressed.”
Marc Van Impe, Tesla’s former head of safety policy who left for SpaceX in October, criticized the slow regulatory process, stating that it “impacts Europe’s competitiveness.”
Limited Options
Tesla’s path forward in Europe appears challenging. One option would be pursuing regulatory exemptions country by country, requesting approval for each FSD feature separately – an exhausting bureaucratic process requiring individual national approvals.
Alternatively, Tesla could release a heavily restricted version of FSD compliant with current UNECE regulations. However, this would likely make the system impractical, as drivers would need to manually confirm every action.
Despite these limitations, Tesla continues charging UK customers £6,800 for “full self-driving capability” – a feature with no practical use in the country.
Beyond FSD: Tesla’s Other Developments
While facing FSD setbacks, Tesla continues advancing other technologies. The company recently expanded cabin radar support to more models, allowing for improved passenger detection and safety features.
This technology enables Tesla to better determine passenger size (critical information during accidents), detect heart rate and breathing, and implement child presence detection systems that can automatically activate climate control or call emergency services if a child is left in a vehicle.
Originally activated in recent Model Ys, Tesla confirmed the radar technology is also available in 2024+ Model 3s and the Cybertruck, with rear-seat sensing expected to arrive in Q3 2025.
Tesla has also demonstrated quick response to infrastructure challenges. After vandals set fire to a Supercharger site in Massachusetts on March 2, 2025, the company repaired the damage and restored full functionality within 48 hours.
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Looking Ahead
The UNECE is scheduled to meet again in June and November, but based on the most recent session’s agenda, autonomous driving regulations don’t appear to be scheduled for discussion in June. This suggests Tesla’s FSD deployment in Europe likely won’t happen in 2025 as originally planned.
Unless there’s a major shift in regulatory approach, European Tesla customers eager for full self-driving capabilities face a potentially long wait – with some projections suggesting the technology might not reach Europe until 2028.
FAQ
Why can’t Tesla launch its Full Self-Driving system in Europe?
The UK Department for Transport and other European regulatory bodies have restricted Tesla’s FSD system due to safety concerns. These restrictions limit the system to basic highway maneuvers and require drivers to keep their hands on the wheel, preventing the rollout of more advanced autonomous features that are available in other markets.
What specific concerns do European regulators have about Tesla’s FSD?
Regulators are concerned about “new safety risks” that might be introduced by autonomous systems. They’ve specifically expressed worries about the impact on driver behavior, situational awareness, and overall road safety. UK officials stated they prefer a phased approach to introducing such technologies rather than immediate full implementation.
How is this affecting Tesla’s business in Europe?
Tesla has experienced declining sales in Europe since the start of the year. While this can’t be attributed solely to FSD restrictions, the regulatory hurdles are hampering Musk’s strategy to use autonomous driving as a growth engine. Tesla’s stock has fallen by almost a third this year amid these challenges and broader market conditions.
When might Tesla’s FSD be approved for use in Europe?
Based on current regulatory discussions, FSD likely won’t be fully deployed in Europe in 2025 as Tesla had planned. Some projections suggest the technology might not reach Europe until 2028, although this timeline could change if regulatory attitudes shift or Tesla adapts its technology to meet European requirements.
Is Tesla still charging European customers for FSD capability?
Yes, Tesla continues to charge UK customers £6,800 for “full self-driving capability” despite the feature having no practical use in the country under current regulations. This has raised questions about the company’s sales practices in regions where the technology faces significant restrictions.
What options does Tesla have to address these regulatory challenges?
Tesla has limited options: it could pursue country-by-country regulatory exemptions (an exhausting bureaucratic process), release a heavily restricted version of FSD that complies with current regulations (but would be impractical for users), or wait for regulatory changes. Meanwhile, the company continues to advance other technologies like cabin radar systems that improve passenger safety features.
