Tesla has officially started public demonstrations of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised software on the streets of Tokyo. The testing fleet, which recently expanded from a single Model 3 to include a Model Y, is being used to validate the system’s performance in Japan’s unique and dense urban environments.
Hiroshi Hashimoto, President of Tesla Japan, confirmed that the company is aiming for a full commercial rollout by the end of 2026, pending final regulatory approval. The Level 2 system handles steering, braking, and acceleration while requiring a human driver to remain attentive. If approved, an over-the-air software update could instantly activate the feature for approximately 40,000 Tesla vehicles already on Japanese roads.
Early footage from the Tokyo trials shows the software successfully navigating complex intersections and adhering to local traffic laws, such as mandatory pauses at crosswalks. “It’s handling Japan’s unique road environment smoothly,” noted Ken Maeda, a former Tesla and Porsche executive who observed the trials. “Now, we’re just waiting for official approval from the authorities.”
As Tesla prepares for a 2026 launch in Japan, the company is aggressively expanding its Full Self-Driving (FSD) validation programs across several continents to secure necessary regulatory approvals. In Europe, Tesla is collaborating with the Dutch vehicle authority to unlock the software across the EU, while active “ride-along” programs have already been established in major German cities.
Meanwhile, in China, the company is in the final stages of a regulatory review after partnering with Baidu to navigate strict mapping and data security laws, aiming for a wide release later this year.
The global expansion also includes new frontiers in the Middle East, with official road trials beginning in Abu Dhabi as of February 2026. To ensure the software can handle diverse driving conditions, Tesla has established Australia as a primary right-hand-drive testing ground and secured approval for localized testing in Sweden. These Scandinavian trials are specifically designed to evaluate how the vision-based system performs in challenging Nordic winter environments.
