Tesla seeks EU approval for driver-assistance system with German backing

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Tesla seeks EU approval

Highlights

Germany's Transport Minister Steffen Bilger supports rapid EU approval of Tesla's Full Self-Driving system, including allowing speeds up to 10% over posted limits.
Approval in the EU faces delays until at least December as countries like Sweden and France push for removal of Tesla's speed-offset function amid safety concerns.
Tightened EU approval is critical for Tesla's European sales strategy, with regulators scrutinizing company claims and lobbying efforts after U.S. features like 'Mad Max' were excluded.

Germany support shapes Tesla's EU approval push

As reported by Reuters, Elon Musk welcomed Germany's support after Transport Minister Steffen Bilger said he is pressing for swift EU approval of Tesla's "Full Self-Driving" technology following talks with the company last month.

Bilger said in a statement on Tuesday that discussions covered technical issues and liability, and that Germany agreed with Tesla the system may exceed posted speed limits by as much as 10%. Berlin is also backing that approach in the European approval process, where speeding has become a central point of dispute.

Bilger added that Tesla has offered to rename the system "Tesla Assisted Driving" to address concerns that the current name may mislead users, because the software assists drivers rather than operating as a fully autonomous system. Musk responded with "Danke schoen" on X, while Bilger said his goal is for Tesla drivers to benefit from assisted driving across the EU without delay.

Safety concerns delay wider European rollout

Supporters of tighter rules argue Tesla's speed-offset function, which allows the system to drive above the posted limit, should be removed before any approval is granted. Several EU countries, including Sweden and France, have raised concerns, and a vote initially expected in October has been pushed back until at least December while additional testing continues.

The Europe-specific version approved earlier this year by Dutch regulators excludes some features available in the U.S., including a so-called "Mad Max" setting, but still keeps a function that can raise maximum speed to as much as 50% above the detected speed limit.

Tesla has described approval of the system as important to lifting sales in Europe, where the company built its first regional factory outside Berlin. A Reuters Special Report said on Wednesday that Tesla has run an intensive lobbying campaign to secure approval despite objections from safety experts and some member states, while specialists who reviewed Tesla's methodology for Reuters said the company's study does not provide evidence for its claim that the system is life-saving.

Our earlier coverage of the European Commission’s proposed Core corporate levy examined how Brussels is exploring a broader tax on very large companies as EU budget pressures rise. We noted that the plan could shift thresholds to focus on the biggest multinationals, apply across sectors, and would still need unanimous backing from all 27 EU member states amid sensitivities about U.S. retaliation.

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