Tesla’s full self-driving system (FSD) is set to receive approval for use on European highways by late September — an important step towards overcoming regulatory setbacks on the old continent.
A new amendment will unlock “System-Initiated Maneuvers” (SIM) across several countries, following the latest meeting of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) held earlier this month.
The documents were mentioned on X by user ‘Kees Roelandschap’, who noted that the UNECE amendment will take effect on September 26, after a six-month window for objections from member states.
The commission sets commerce guidelines for EU and external countries, such as the UK, Japan and South Korea. Its regulation 157 is focused on “Automated Lane Keeping Systems” — or Autopilot.
The current rules allow systems to suggest maneuvers but require explicit driver confirmation for every autonomous decision, as well as speed restrictions.
It only applies to highways that are physically separated from vehicles, meaning that lanes without clear barriers are off-limits, such as low-speed roadways or cities.
The regulation, which will be standardly applied to all countries unless they specifically block it, will allow system-initiated moves — but not features like starting the system from the parking spot or driving up to the destination yet.
Tesla’s supervised FSD is available in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico and China, allowing its customers to drive “hands-off, eyes on” the road.
Last month, China’s MIIT banned terms like ‘autonomous driving’ or ‘full self-driving’, stating that companies should “avoid exaggeration or false advertising.” By then, the U.S. brand changed FSD’s denomination to ‘intelligent assisted driving’ (“智能辅助驾驶”).
Last month, the company teased the system’s European rollout on X, with an engineering test drive in Amsterdam, highlighting that it was “pending regulatory approval.” This week, Elon Musk wrote: “Tesla is waiting for EU approval (sigh).”
The company is set to launch its unsupervised full self-driving in Austin this June, with a ride-hailing service with its Cybercab model. However, it will start being provided with “10 to 20” Model Ys “on day one.”
Last week, the U.S. brand was approached by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to “assess the ability of Tesla’s system to react appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions.”
The NHTSA, which has been investigating FSD collisions since October, also asked the EV maker how it plans to evaluate its driving automation technologies for public roads.
