EU Pushes Back Vote on Tesla’s Supervised Full Self-Driving Rollout
Delay and Implications of the EU Vote on Tesla’s FSD
Background and Timeline
STOCKHOLM, Sept 25 (Reuters) - An expected European Union vote on allowing Tesla's supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) system across the bloc has been delayed from October, with the next apparent opportunity for a decision not before December, according to an agenda published on the EU's website.
Regulatory Approvals and Proposals
• Dutch regulator RDW approved the system in April, with Belgium and a handful of other countries following suit
• RDW is also proposing that the software be approved across the bloc
Timeline of the Vote
• Tesla said on September 1 in a post on X that an EU-wide vote could potentially happen on October 6
• However, the agenda for an October 6 meeting of the Technical Committee on Motor Vehicles (TCMV), which brings together representatives of EU member states and the European Commission, lists only a "continuation of discussions" on the Dutch request for an Article 39 authorisation, with 25 minutes allocated to the discussion
• The committee has already discussed Tesla's request at two previous meetings. The next scheduled TCMV meeting after October is in December, making that the earliest apparent opportunity for a vote based on the current agenda
Approval Process and Member State Positions
Voting Requirements
• An EU-wide rollout requires support by a "qualified majority" of 15 of the EU's 27 member states, representing 65% of the bloc's population
Concerns and Support
Countries Expressing Concerns
• Several EU countries, including Sweden, have expressed concerns about FSD exceeding speed limits, while countries that approved it say drivers remain responsible for complying with traffic laws
Other Approved Systems
• The same committee approved Ford's BlueCruise driver assistance system March 2024, with Germany as its sponsor
Market Impact
Significance for Tesla
• Tesla has called FSD approval key to boosting sales in Europe, where it is seeking to regain market share amid growing competition from Chinese electric-vehicle makers
(Reporting by Marie Mannes. Editing by Inti Landauro and Mark Potter)
