Netherlands Clears Tesla's Full Self-Driving for Roads

The Netherlands has approved Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised system for use on public roads, according to an announcement by the country’s vehicle authority, the RDW, on April 11, 2026. The RDW said the decision makes the Netherlands the first European country to authorize the system for public-road operation. Officials described the approval as the outcome of more than 18 months of testing.

The RDW said driver-assistance technology can improve road safety when used correctly because it supports motorists. It also highlighted that FSD Supervised includes continuous, strict monitoring of the driver, which the regulator said makes it safer than other assistance systems. The authority’s statement emphasized the role of the human driver, framing the system as assistance rather than autonomy.

Tesla has started distributing the FSD Supervised update to a limited group of users in the Netherlands. The company’s rollout covers FSD Supervised version 2026.3.6, the RDW said. Before the feature can be activated, drivers must complete a tutorial and pass a quiz, with the materials stressing that the system does not provide full self-driving capability and that the driver must remain vigilant.

The approval could support wider uptake across the European Union, as the RDW decision may help set a precedent for other jurisdictions considering similar permissions. The announcement also noted that Tesla’s European headquarters are in Amsterdam, placing a key corporate hub inside the country that issued the authorization. How quickly other European regulators move, and whether they mirror the Dutch approach, remains uncertain based on the information provided.

The European decision arrives while Tesla’s driver-assistance technologies face scrutiny in the United States. Officials said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has an ongoing investigation into Tesla’s FSD that could result in a recall. Separately, the NHTSA recently closed another investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot system without taking further action.