Dutch authority RDW to test Tesla's FSD in February

(Reuters) -The Dutch vehicle authority RDW said on Monday it expects to decide on Tesla's Full Self-Driving software in February after the EV maker demonstrates that the driver assistance system meets the required standards.

The agency was responding to Tesla's post on X on Friday, in which it said the RDW "has committed to granting the company the Netherlands National approval" in February.

"Upon NL National approval, other EU countries can immediately recognize the exemption and also allow rollout within their country. Then we will bring it to a TCMV (Technical Committee on Motor Vehicles) vote for official EU-wide approval," Tesla had said.

Tesla had urged customers to contact RDW to "express excitement and thank them for making this happen as soon as possible." But RDW on Monday asked them to stop contacting the agency.

"Road safety remains the RDW's top priority: approval is only possible once the safety of the system has been convincingly demonstrated," it said.

CEO Elon Musk earlier this month said he expects Tesla's FSD to be fully approved in China early next year.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in October said it is opening an investigation into 2.88 million FSD-equipped Tesla vehicles over more than 50 reports of traffic-safety violations and a series of crashes.

(Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Leroy Leo)