Tesla logo outside the Tilburg factory and distribution center.
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tesla is seeking to have its “FSD Supervised” technology approved for use in the Netherlands. However, the Dutch regulator has asked Tesla fans to stop pressuring safety authority RDW on the issue, saying their efforts will have “no influence” on the final decision.
RDW issued a statement Monday addressing people who have sent messages trying to push regulators to approve Tesla’s premium partial self-driving system, which is sold as a fully self-driving (supervised) option in the United States. It is not yet widely available in the Netherlands or Europe.
“We would like to thank everyone who has already contacted us and ask them not to contact us regarding this matter,” the agency said. “Customer service will take unnecessary time. Moreover, this will not affect whether the plan is achieved or not. Road safety is RDW’s top priority. Admission will only be possible if the safety of the system is convincingly demonstrated.”
Regulators said they would only make a decision after Elon Musk’s company showed its technology met the country’s strict vehicle safety standards. RDW said it has reserved a schedule for Tesla to demonstrate the system and could decide on approval as early as February.
Last week, Tesla posted on X urging its followers to contact RDW to express their desire to have the system approved.
The post claimed that “RDW has committed to granting Dutch state recognition in February 2026,” and added the message: “To express your excitement and thank us for making this happen as soon as possible, please contact us via the link below.” Tesla said other EU countries could follow suit.
RDW corrected Tesla in a statement on its official website on Monday, saying such approval was not guaranteed or promised.
Tesla did not respond to a request for comment.
In the United States, the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating Tesla’s FSD-equipped vehicles in October after reports of widespread traffic violations related to the use of the system.
Tesla currently sells cars that require a human driver to be able to brake and steer at any time, even when FSD monitoring is activated.
Mr. Musk has long promised that Tesla customers will soon be able to turn their existing electric cars into robotaxis with a simple software update, allowing owners to earn money while they sleep or go on vacation.
That hasn’t happened yet, and Tesla has since informed owners that future upgrades will require new hardware as well as software releases.
Tesla is testing a robotaxi-branded ride-hailing service in Texas and elsewhere that would feature a human safety driver or supervisor to direct the ride and intervene manually when needed. Musk said the company aims to eliminate human dryers in Austin, Texas, by the end of 2025.
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