Tesla FSD EU Approval Delayed to April 10 as RDW Completes Final Review

Tesla has announced a short delay in its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) approval process in Europe, with the Netherlands vehicle authority RDW now expected to deliver its decision by April 10, 2026 — roughly three weeks later than the original March 20 target. Despite the postponement, the update signals meaningful progress toward bringing Tesla's autonomous driving technology to European roads.

The electric vehicle giant confirmed that all required documentation has been submitted to RDW, including UN R-171 compliance materials and Article 39 exemption requests. The authority is currently conducting its internal review. Tesla Europe expressed confidence in the outcome, noting it looks forward to sharing FSD with European customers following approval next month.

The approval process has been extensive. Over the past 18 months, Tesla logged more than 1.6 million kilometers of FSD testing across EU roads, completed over 13,000 customer ride-alongs, and executed more than 4,500 track test scenarios. The regulatory submission spans thousands of documentation pages covering over 400 compliance requirements and includes dozens of independent safety studies.

RDW's decision carries significant weight beyond the Netherlands. Under EU regulations, other member states can recognize a national approval, paving the way for potential EU-wide availability as early as summer 2026. Barclays analyst Dan Levy called the development a positive for Tesla stock, noting that European regulations have historically constrained FSD deployment.

The news arrives as Tesla faces increased scrutiny from U.S. regulators. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration expanded its probe into 3.2 million FSD-equipped vehicles over poor visibility concerns, though a separate investigation into pedal misapplication claims was simultaneously closed with no safety defects found.

Tesla shares dipped slightly to $376.52 on Friday. With the April 10 deadline approaching, investors and EV enthusiasts alike are watching closely for what could be Tesla's first FSD authorization outside the United States.