Tesla expects Netherlands FSD approval by April 10 after 1.6M km testing
Tesla expects RDW to approve its Full Self-Driving supervised system by April 10, three weeks later than planned, paving the way for an EU-wide rollout in summer 2026. The company completed an 18-month program with over 1.6 million kilometers of testing and documentation covering 400 compliance requirements.
1. Approval Timeline and Significance
Tesla submitted its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system to the Netherlands vehicle authority RDW and expects approval by April 10, a three-week delay from the originally targeted March 20 date. This milestone is key for a potential EU-wide launch of FSD during summer 2026, as other member states can recognize Netherlands type approval under current regulations.
2. Extensive Testing Program
The approval process followed an 18-month testing and documentation effort that covered more than 1.6 million kilometers of real-world FSD operation on European roads. Tesla also conducted over 13,000 customer ride-along tests and 4,500 track scenarios, compiling thousands of pages addressing 400 compliance requirements for UN R-171 and Article 39 exemptions.
3. Regulatory Implications and Next Steps
Once RDW grants approval, EU countries can adopt Tesla’s FSD system nationally, accelerating the rollout across the bloc. The company aims for full harmonization by summer 2026, while managing parallel regulatory scrutiny in the U.S., where a safety probe remains open on 3.2 million vehicles using FSD.