Tesla: France to Test Its FSD Assisted Driving System on Roads
France will conduct on-road trials of Tesla's Supervised Full Self-Driving, an advanced driver assistance system that requires the driver to remain attentive and ready to take control. Two vehicles are to be made available for these tests, while approval of the system remains subject to the European regulatory process.
Two Tesla Vehicles Equipped with the System to Be Tested in France
The Minister for Transport Philippe Tabarot announced on September 2, 2026, following an exchange with Elon Musk, the transition to a phase of road trials in France. Tesla must provide two vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Supervisé, or FSD, a driver assistance technology capable of taking charge of certain driving tasks while keeping the driver responsible for the vehicle.
The minister indicated that French authorities have been working with Tesla for several months on technical adaptations designed to enable France to support its approval. This new phase comes after reservations expressed in July by Philippe Tabarot regarding the safety guarantees of the system.
The Driver Remains Responsible Despite FSD Assistance
Supervised FSD does not correspond to fully autonomous driving: the driver must remain attentive and be able to take control at any time. Philippe Tabarot indicated that its approval must be decided at the European level in the coming weeks. The Netherlands granted provisional approval to the system in April, subsequently authorized in Belgium, Denmark, Estonia and Lithuania. Tesla also mentions a possible European vote on the matter on October 6, 2026.
