France has become the first European Union member state to publicly oppose the approval of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) driver assistance software on its roads, citing unresolved safety issues. The French government expressed concerns about the system’s current safety trade-offs, despite acknowledging its technological advancements.
French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot stated in a video message released on Wednesday that while the FSD system offers several technological improvements, the safety compromises it entails are not yet adequate to warrant authorization in its present form.
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving is an advanced driver assistance feature capable of accelerating, braking, and steering a vehicle. However, it still requires the human driver to remain alert and ready to take control at any moment.
Earlier in April, the Dutch road authority (RDW) granted provisional approval for the software, leading Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, and Lithuania to follow suit. This momentum was building toward a potential European Union-wide vote on the technology later this year.
France’s opposition introduces a significant hurdle to the Dutch-led initiative, complicating efforts to achieve bloc-wide acceptance of Tesla’s FSD system.
In response, Tesla CEO Elon Musk warned on X that postponing approval in France “will cost lives,” emphasizing the urgency of adopting the technology.
Minister Tabarot confirmed that France will continue technical discussions with the Netherlands and other EU countries as authorities further evaluate the safety of the system.
Tesla considers Full Self-Driving a crucial revenue source and a competitive edge as it aims to bolster its presence in the European market, especially after a decline in vehicle registrations last year.
