Tesla FSD Code Leak Suggests Imminent European Trials
Leaked code from Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) software suggests that driver-assistance system trials are imminent in Europe and the United Kingdom. Approval from the Dutch vehicle authority (RDW) could reportedly happen this week, marking a potential expansion for Tesla's autonomy features while competitors like BMW and Mercedes have scaled back similar efforts.
- European approval hinges on satisfying the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) regulations, which have historically been stricter than U.S. standards. A key hurdle has been UNECE Regulation 157, which governs Automated Lane Keeping Systems (ALKS) and requires explicit driver confirmation for maneuvers like lane changes. However, a new draft global regulation from UNECE aims to create a standardized validation methodology, potentially simplifying deployment across its 50 member states. - The Dutch authority, RDW, offers European type approval (ETG) that is valid in all EU and EFTA member states. Their process for innovative systems involves document review, risk analysis (like FMEA or ISO 26262), closed-environment testing, and finally, monitored on-road trials under specific conditions. - In North America, FSD is marketed as "FSD (Supervised)," a Level 2 driver-assistance system that can navigate most driving scenarios, including city streets, but requires constant driver attention. As of January 2026, Tesla discontinued its basic "Autopilot" on new vehicles in North America, making Traffic-Aware Cruise Control standard and FSD (Supervised) the sole advanced ADAS option, moving towards a subscription-only model. - The rollout of FSD in China serves as a recent precedent for international expansion. After a period of partial approval, Elon Musk has indicated that full regulatory approval in China could come in early 2026. To adapt the system, Tesla established a local training center in China to process domestic driving data. - Analysis of recent software builds by hacker @greentheonly revealed code changes preparing for European regulations. These include the removal of the "beta" label from Autosteer's internal code, new vision-based attention-monitoring icons, and a system message that reads, “Approaching a country border, FSD features might become unavailable," suggesting readiness for Europe's varied regulatory landscape. - In contrast to Tesla's software-centric approach, German automakers have pursued a more incremental, safety-first strategy. Mercedes-Benz received approval for its Level 3 DRIVE PILOT system, which uses a combination of cameras, radar, ultrasonic sensors, and LiDAR for redundancy. - Competitors who had pursued Level 3 "eyes-off" systems are now reportedly reconsidering. BMW is allegedly discontinuing its "Personal Pilot L3" option on the facelifted 7 Series due to low customer adoption (a €6,000 premium), limited operational speed (up to 60 km/h), and system complexity. Instead, it will focus on a more advanced Level 2 "Symbiotic Drive" system that is significantly less expensive.
