Tesla has been pressuring the Dutch vehicle regulator, RDW, to accelerate the review process for its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system. Correspondence obtained by Reuters reveals that Tesla disputed an €365,000 invoice for the regulator's work, demanding a detailed breakdown of costs and objecting to expenses related to staff visits to Giga Berlin.
The Dutch approval serves as a critical foundation for Tesla's expansion in Europe. Currently, eight EU countries permit the system, with a bloc-wide vote anticipated as early as December. Approval requires support from 15 of the 27 member states, representing 65% of the EU population. Major markets like Germany, Italy, and Spain have yet to sign on.
Tesla has utilized its own safety research to influence regulators, though experts note the study relies on small sample sizes and surrogate metrics rather than crash data. The company has also encouraged its user base to lobby European officials directly. Meanwhile, Tesla’s European sales declined by 28% last year, heightening the commercial importance of the FSD rollout.
The RDW maintains that its interactions with manufacturers do not compromise the independence of its assessments. However, the regulator has redacted portions of the correspondence and declined to publish its test data, citing trade secrets. Critics argue that the approval process lacks the transparency required to verify the safety claims surrounding the technology.
