Dutch Agency Tells Tesla Fans: Keep Pressing ‘Supervised FSD’

Tesla (TSLA) is currently navigating regulatory hurdles in the Netherlands as it seeks approval for its “FSD Supervised” technology. However, Dutch regulators are urging caution, advising against public pressure campaigns directed at the RDW, the Dutch vehicle safety authority. The RDW has explicitly stated that such lobbying efforts will not influence their final decision on the matter.

The RDW issued a statement addressing the influx of inquiries aimed at expediting the approval of Tesla’s advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS), known in the U.S. as Full Self-Driving (Supervised). This technology is not yet authorized for use in the Netherlands or the broader European market.

“We thank everyone who has already done so and would like to ask everyone not to contact us about this,” the agency stated. “It takes up unnecessary time for our customer service. Moreover, this will have no influence on whether or not the planning is met. Road safety is the RDW’s top priority: admission is only possible once the safety of the system has been convincingly demonstrated.”

The core issue revolves around demonstrating the safety and reliability of Tesla’s system to meet the Netherlands’ rigorous vehicle safety standards. The RDW has scheduled a period for Tesla to showcase its technology, with a potential decision on authorization expected as early as February. However, this timeline is contingent on Tesla successfully demonstrating the system’s safety.

This situation arose after Tesla, via its European X account, encouraged followers to contact the RDW and voice their support for the system’s approval. The company asserted that “RDW has committed to granting Netherlands National approval in February 2026,” urging users to “express your excitement & thank them for making this happen as soon as possible.” Tesla suggested that approval in the Netherlands could pave the way for other EU countries to follow suit.

The RDW promptly refuted Tesla’s claim, clarifying that no such guarantee or promise of approval had been made. The agency emphasized that any approval hinges solely on the successful demonstration of the technology’s safety performance.

Tesla has yet to issue a formal response to the RDW’s statement. This regulatory challenge in the Netherlands adds to the scrutiny surrounding Tesla’s FSD technology.

In the U.S, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) initiated an investigation into Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD following incidents and concerns about traffic regulation adherence.

Currently, even with FSD Supervised engaged, Tesla vehicles require a driver to remain alert and prepared to intervene at any moment to ensure safety.

For years, CEO Elon Musk has alluded to the prospect of Tesla vehicles functioning as fully autonomous robotaxis, generating revenue for their owners. This vision has yet to materialize, with Tesla indicating that future upgrades will necessitate both software and hardware enhancements.

Tesla is actively testing a Robotaxi service in select locations, including Texas. These trials involve vehicles operating with safety drivers or supervisors onboard. Musk has stated a goal of removing human drivers from Robotaxis in Austin, Texas, by the end of 2025; a target that remains ambitious given current regulatory and technological challenges. The core technology behind full self-driving continues to be a complex engineering problem, with edge cases and unpredictable real-world scenarios posing significant hurdles. Furthermore, the evolving regulatory landscape presents ongoing uncertainty as governments grapple with the implications of autonomous vehicles.