Tesla‘s VP of AI Software Ashok Elluswamy signalled on late Sunday that the regulatory framework underpinning the company’s newly approved Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system in the Netherlands could extend to countries outside the European Union.
“The European regulation is followed by a lot more countries than just the ones in EU,” Elluswamy wrote on X, replying to X user ‘Whole Mars Catalog’, who posted: “Now that the dam has broken in the Netherlands, the list of FSD countries is about to” increase.
Sawyer Merritt, a Tesla shareholder with over a million followers on X, quoted Elluswamy’s post and added that a “much quicker approval in other European countries” can be expected.
“The RDW often sets the standards that influences almost all of Europe, so now that the RDW has approved (type approval) FSD (Supervised), we should expect much quicker approval in other European countries.”
Elon Musk reposted Merritt’s comment without adding any words.
Non-EU countries including the United Kingdom, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, and several Balkan states follow UN-ECE vehicle regulations — the same framework under which the Dutch RDW issued its type approval.
If those countries recognise the Dutch decision, FSD could reach markets that are not part of the EU’s formal mutual-recognition process.
Weekend Rollout
Tesla began pushing FSD (Supervised) to customer vehicles in the Netherlands on Saturday — less than 24 hours after the Dutch vehicle authority RDW issued its formal type approval on Friday, April 10.
Software update 2026.3.6 began downloading to vehicles on Saturday evening.
The initial rollout is limited to vehicles equipped with Tesla’s HW4 (AI4) computer, according to NotATeslaApp, with HW3 support timelines not yet confirmed.
Dutch Tesla owner ‘KRoelandschap’ posted a screenshot showing the update, writing: “Well that went quick!! Within 24hrs i’m getting FSD.”
Elluswamy confirmed the rollout, writing: “Tesla FSD is now rolling out to actual customers in the Netherlands!”
Tesla is requiring all Dutch owners activating FSD for the first time to complete a mandatory safety quiz before the system can be engaged, Sawyer Merritt reported on Saturday. The quiz includes visual identification of when FSD is active and questions on driver responsibilities — a new onboarding step not present in the US rollout.
The system is geo-fenced to Dutch borders.
When approaching the boundary with Belgium or Germany, the vehicle alerts the driver that FSD will become unavailable.
The feature cannot be activated outside the Netherlands, where the type approval is currently valid.
The version deployed in Europe is FSD 14.2.2.5, distinct from the 14.3 version currently available in North America.
The RDW stated explicitly that “the software versions and functionalities of American and European cars are not directly comparable.”
FSD (Supervised) is priced at €99 per month in the Netherlands, with a reduced rate of €49 per month for owners who previously purchased Enhanced Autopilot.
An outright purchase option is available at €7,500.
What the RDW Said
The RDW emphasised that FSD Supervised is a driver-assistance system classified under UN Regulation 171 — not an autonomous driving system.
“This driver’s assistance system has been extensively researched and tested on our test track and on public roads for more than a year and a half,” the authority wrote. “Safety is paramount for the RDW.”
The authority said sensors monitor whether the driver’s eyes are on the road and whether hands are available to intervene. Hands do not need to rest on the wheel, but the driver must be able to take over immediately.
“It is therefore not permitted or possible to, for example, read the newspaper behind the wheel,” the RDW wrote.
The approval followed more than 1.6 million kilometres of European road data, over 13,000 customer ride-alongs, 4,500 track test scenarios, and documentation covering more than 400 compliance requirements.
CEO Elon Musk responded to the approval on Friday, writing: “RDW was extremely rigorous in their review.”
Belgium: Regional Complexity
Belgium is widely expected to be among the first EU member states to recognise the Dutch approval, given the two countries’ shared border and regulatory alignment.
However, in Belgium, the path runs through three regional governments rather than a single national authority.
A letter from the cabinet of Belgian Minister Jean-Luc Crucke — the Minister of Mobility, Climate, and Ecological Transition — states that “the acceptance of this provisional type approval therefore depends on the Regions.”
The letter lists separate contacts for the Walloon Region, Brussels-Capital Region, and Flemish Region, each of which must independently process the recognition.
“My administration is therefore not allowed to give you an answer to your request,” the minister wrote. “However, I strongly support the development of European legislation concerning driver assistance systems and technologies related to autonomous driving.”
The Belgian case illustrates the fragmented reality of EU-wide adoption: even within a single member state, multiple authorities may need to act before FSD becomes available to owners.
Path to EU-Wide Approval
The Dutch approval does not automatically extend to other EU member states. Two parallel pathways exist.
Individual member states can recognise the RDW’s decision nationally without repeating the full 18-month review. .
Full EU-wide harmonisation requires the RDW to submit an application to the European Commission.
All 27 member states would vote through the Technical Committee on Motor Vehicles. The process is estimated to take two to four months.
Tesla has targeted “a possible EU-wide approval during the summer.”
However, the European Commission has not committed to a timeline.
For non-EU countries, the pathway is separate.
The UK, which operates outside the EU framework, has historically referenced European type approvals.
Norway, Switzerland, and other non-EU states that follow UN-ECE regulations may act independently — which is the broader implication of Elluswamy’s statement.
A Long Road
The Netherlands approval came after repeated missed deadlines.
In November 2025, Tesla‘s European social media account claimed the RDW had “committed to granting Netherlands National approval in February 2026.” The RDW publicly denied this days later.
At Davos in January, Musk said he hoped for European approval “next month.” The approval came in April — two months after the CEO’s stated target.
FSD (Supervised) is currently available in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and now the Netherlands.
