Tesla Secures Approval for Full Self-Driving Software in Croatia

Tesla (TSLA) announced on Tuesday it has received regulatory approval to roll out its supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) system in Croatia, according to a report from Reuters. The move adds another European market to the electric vehicle maker's list as it pursues a broader rollout of its advanced driver-assistance technology across the continent.

European Expansion Continues

Croatia is the latest European Union member state to greenlight the software. The approval follows a series of individual country-level authorizations for Tesla's FSD system.

Key developments include:

• The Dutch vehicle regulator, RDW, first approved the system in April.
• Belgium and several other countries have since followed suit.
• Neighboring Slovenia also granted its approval earlier this month.

This country-by-country approach comes as the RDW is also proposing that the software be approved across the entire EU bloc.

Ad

Broader EU Approval Faces Hurdles

The push for an EU-wide rollout has encountered resistance. A safety group and several member states have expressed concerns, particularly regarding the system's ability to exceed posted speed limits, which has become a contentious issue.

An expected vote on allowing a bloc-wide rollout, previously slated for October, has been delayed. The next opportunity for a decision is not anticipated before December. For the software to be approved across the EU, it requires the support of a "qualified majority" of 15 of the 27 member states, representing at least 65% of the bloc's population.

Strategic Importance for Tesla

Tesla has identified the European FSD rollout as a crucial element of its strategy to boost sales and defend its market position. The company faces intensifying competition from Chinese electric-vehicle manufacturers, and it views its software and autonomous driving technology as a key competitive advantage.