Latvia has become the 10th European country to approve Tesla's driver assistance software, following a similar authorization in Slovakia earlier this month. The system, previously known as Full Self-Driving (Supervised), is now branded as Tesla Assisted Driving (TAD) in Europe. The Latvian transport authority confirmed the approval based on a temporary EU type-approval issued by the Dutch Vehicle Authority.
Tesla plans to begin software rollouts in Latvia soon, though no specific dates were provided. The subscription for the feature is priced at €99 per month. While the system handles highway traffic and merging, test drives revealed limitations, such as failing to slow down for closed gates or missing parking spots at Supercharger stations. Drivers are required to remain alert and ready to intervene at all times.
The technology is classified as a Level 2 driver assistance system, meaning the driver remains legally responsible for any traffic violations or accidents. Tesla claims the software can improve collision avoidance by more than four times, though safety researchers remain skeptical of these figures. The company is currently seeking broader support for the technology ahead of a key EU vote.
Local Tesla owner clubs have been instrumental in pushing for these approvals. In Slovakia, a club with 1,500 members organized light shows to capture the attention of regulators. Despite these efforts, the technology faces ongoing scrutiny from European authorities, who continue to raise concerns regarding safety and the ability of drivers to maintain sufficient attention while the system is active.
