Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Musk Welcomes Germany’s Support for Tesla EU Approval Push
Tesla wants its driver-assistance system approved across the European Union.
Elon Musk thanked Germany for supporting that effort.
German Transport Minister Steffen Bilger said Germany is backing a quick approval process.
Germany and Tesla have discussed technical questions and who would be responsible if something goes wrong.
Germany also supports letting the system go slightly above the speed limit, but some safety advocates object.
Tesla has offered to rename the system because it does not drive completely by itself.
Some European countries support approval, while others have concerns.
A vote that was expected in October has been postponed until at least December.
Safety experts also dispute Tesla’s claim that the system saves lives.
Elon Musk welcomed German Transport Minister Steffen Bilger’s support for seeking EU-wide approval of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system.
Germany and Tesla discussed technical details and liability, and Germany supports allowing the system to exceed speed limits by up to 10%.
Bilger said Tesla offered to rename the system “Tesla Assisted Driving” because it assists drivers rather than driving fully autonomously.
The Netherlands and Belgium have supported the technology, while Sweden and France have raised concerns about speeding; an EU vote expected in October was delayed until at least December.
Safety advocates and researchers challenge the system’s speed-offset feature and Tesla’s safety claims, while Tesla says approval is important to its European sales.
- Who
- Tesla CEO Elon Musk, German Transport Minister Steffen Bilger, Tesla, and EU member states.
- What
- Germany backed efforts to obtain EU-wide approval for Tesla’s driver-assistance system, while concerns remain about speeding and safety claims.
- When
- Musk welcomed the backing on Wednesday; Bilger’s statement was issued Tuesday. An EU vote expected in October has been delayed until at least December.
- Where
- Germany and the European Union.
- Why
- Tesla says approval is important for boosting its European sales; Germany says it wants Tesla drivers to use assisted driving across the EU without delay.
Support for approval
Concerns about approval
EU-wide authorization
Support for approval
Bilger supports prompt approval so Tesla drivers can use assisted driving across the EU; Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium have backed the technology.
Concerns about approval
Some EU countries, including Sweden and France, have raised concerns, and additional testing has contributed to a delay in the vote.
Speed-offset feature
Support for approval
Germany agreed with Tesla that the system may exceed the speed limit by up to 10% and will support that approach in the EU process.
Concerns about approval
Safety advocates and some regulators argue the function allowing the system to exceed posted limits should be removed before approval.
Safety claims and system name
Support for approval
Tesla presents Full Self-Driving as a life-saving technology and has offered to rename it “Tesla Assisted Driving” to address concerns about its name.
Concerns about approval
Researchers who examined Tesla’s study for Reuters said it provides no evidence for the life-saving claim; critics also stress that the system assists drivers and is not fully autonomous.
- System
- Tesla Full Self-Driving, a driver-assistance system
- German support
- Germany supports prompt EU approval and a speed allowance of up to 10% above the limit.
- Proposed name
- Tesla offered to rename the system “Tesla Assisted Driving.”
- Countries supporting
- Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium have backed the technology.
- Countries with concerns
- Sweden and France have expressed concerns about exceeding speed limits.
- EU vote
- A vote expected in October has been postponed until at least December.
- Dutch-approved version
- It excluded some US features but retained a function that can raise the vehicle’s maximum speed to as much as 50% above the detected speed limit.