Elon Musk has reiterated his expectation that Tesla may soon secure regulatory approval in Europe and China for its supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, suggesting that clearance could arrive as early as next month.
Yet regulatory bodies across both regions have pushed back against the notion of imminent approval, signalling that the process remains far from settled.
In Europe, Tesla continues to position the Netherlands as its primary entry point. The Dutch vehicle authority, RDW, has confirmed that February 2026 is scheduled for Tesla to demonstrate the FSD system’s compliance, although this does not guarantee authorisation. The regulator stressed that safety, rather than external pressure, will decide the outcome. Other European Union (EU) member states may choose to recognise an exemption if the Netherlands approves it, but European agencies have repeatedly disputed claims that approval is close.
China remains even more cautious. Although Musk has publicly expressed confidence in near-term approval, Chinese state media insisted that his timeline is “not true,” emphasising that regulatory reviews are ongoing and that data-security requirements remain a central hurdle. Analysts now believe the approval window may extend further into 2026, particularly as officials maintain that no formal review process is underway.
Despite slow regulatory movement, Tesla is relying heavily on autonomy and AI as key revenue opportunities amid a global softening in vehicle demand. The company has expanded its robotaxi trials, recently beginning limited unsupervised rides in Austin, Texas, US, with vehicles operating without in-car safety drivers, though supported by trailing monitoring vehicles. Investor reaction was upbeat, with shares rising after the announcement. However, Tesla’s robotaxi network remains far smaller than earlier promises, and progress continues to lag behind competitors offering fully driverless services.
Parallel to its self-driving ambitions, Tesla is advancing its humanoid robot, Optimus. Musk has stated that the AI developed for FSD transfers directly to robotics, and the company aims to begin selling Optimus publicly by the end of next year. Industry specialists caution that scaling these robots for routine use will be technically demanding, given the complexity of real-world manipulation and the volume of training data required.
As regulatory scrutiny intensifies and technological targets shift, Tesla’s ability to align its AI-driven ambitions with global safety standards will determine how quickly autonomy and robotics become commercial pillars for the company.
