Finland's transport authority is prepared to approve Tesla's self-driving assistance system on an expedited timeline, potentially before a broader EU decision expected in October. The agency is assessing key areas like driver retake control and low-visibility overtaking.
Finland's potential early approval of Tesla's self-driving software could accelerate the adoption of autonomous driving technology across Europe, influencing regulatory approaches and market entry for similar systems.
Finland's transport authority, Traficom, indicated on Tuesday that it may approve Tesla's self-driving assistance system ahead of a European Union-wide decision anticipated in October. The Netherlands was the first European nation to grant provisional approval for Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system in April, a step that could lead to an EU-wide rollout if supported by a qualified majority of member states. Estonia and Belgium have since permitted the technology. Traficom stated it is prepared to expedite its review after the summer, provided it obtains necessary additional information on key assessment areas. These include how quickly drivers can retake control, the system's performance during overtaking in low-visibility conditions on Finnish roads, and its speed offset feature, which has raised concerns in neighboring Sweden and Norway. The agency conveyed a generally positive view of the system. An EU-wide committee vote is expected in October, with further member state discussions scheduled for June 30. Approximately 6,500 cars in Finland, representing about 0.24% of the country's 2.7 million passenger vehicles, are equipped with the system. Traficom noted that while Tesla's FSD requires human supervision and is not considered fully autonomous, genuine self-driving vehicles might appear on Finnish roads as early as 2028.