The Netherlands vehicle authority, RDW, recently granted European type approval for Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised system. The decision comes after an intensive 18-month evaluation process, marking a major milestone for the expansion of Tesla’s driver assistance technology outside of North America.
Details of the approval were presented to the Dutch House of Representatives by the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, prompting the RDW to share insights into its rigorous validation process.
Over 3,000 Hours of Independent Testing
Rather than relying solely on data supplied by Tesla, the RDW conducted an extensive independent investigation. The authority logged more than 3,000 hours of testing using its own equipment across test tracks and public roads.
Testing covered a wide array of environments, including complex urban traffic, varied road types, and extreme weather conditions. The evaluation also incorporated data from 1.8 million kilometres driven with FSD Supervised across Europe. RDW data experts independently reviewed and validated Tesla’s statistical analysis, comparing data from test vehicles against recent Tesla models operating without the system.
Increased Oversight and Safety Record
The RDW emphasized that safety remains the top priority, noting that Tesla’s system features strict and continuous driver monitoring to ensure it is at least as safe as other driver assistance tools on the market.
To maintain strict oversight, the RDW has modified standard European legislation requirements for this rollout. The mandatory reporting frequency for Tesla has been upgraded from an annual basis to a monthly timeline. This allows regulators to continuously collect and analyse data regarding the safety and operation of the software.
Since the type approval was granted, nearly 40,000 Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD Supervised have driven approximately 24 million kilometres in the Netherlands. The RDW confirmed that these kilometres have been completed without any relevant incidents.
The European type approval granted by the RDW is valid for use across the Netherlands, establishing a regulatory framework for how advanced driver assistance systems are monitored in real-time.
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