Germany Backs EU Approval of Tesla’s Driver-Assistance Software
Tesla has offered to rename Full Self-Driving (Supervised) as ‘Tesla Assisted Driving’ and maintain speeds within 10% of the limit.
October 7, 2026 - 11:58 am
Image: Tesla store with cars and charging stations | Credit: Jeremy from Sydney, Australia
Germany will advocate for swift EU-wide approval of Tesla’s advanced driver-assistance system, as stated by transport minister Steffen Bilger on Tuesday. Elon Musk expressed gratitude to Bilger in German on X the following day, as Tesla strives to gain acceptance within a bloc where it has so far been approved only country by country.
Bilger, during a Tagesspiegel Background conference in Berlin, emphasized the benefits of an EU-level agreement. If this fails, he added, Germany might pursue unilateral measures, considering they have yet to recognize the Dutch approval granted to Tesla in April.
The German ministry revealed that Bilger met with Tesla in September to discuss technical details and liability. During these talks, both parties agreed that the system can drive up to 10% above the speed limit—a position Germany will now advocate for in Brussels, according to Reuters.
Tesla has also proposed renaming the system, suggesting "Tesla Assisted Driving" instead of Full Self-Driving (Supervised), as the ministry considers the original name misleading since it implies full autonomy. The system enables steering, braking, and acceleration, but drivers must constantly monitor the road.
“My goal is for Tesla drivers to be able to use the benefits of assisted driving across the whole EU as quickly as possible,” Bilger stated in a press release.
Speeding has emerged as a major obstacle to an EU-wide decision. Countries like Sweden and France have expressed concerns, leading to a delay in the vote initially scheduled for this month—now slated for December at the earliest.
Reuters published a special report on Wednesday, detailing Tesla’s lobbying efforts for European approval. Experts reviewing Tesla’s methodology for Reuters found no evidence supporting their claim that the system saves lives.
For Tesla, EU approval is crucial both commercially and regulatively. The company has linked its sales growth in Europe to this approval, as Chinese rival BYD outsold it during the first months of 2026.