Tesla Cuts FSD Speed Margin From 50% to 10% Over the Limit in Europe
The Dutch regulator RDW also approved renaming the system to Tesla Assisted Driving to match conditions set by Germany.
Tesla’s driver-assistance system in Europe can no longer be configured to drive 50% over the detected speed limit. The Netherlands’ vehicle authority, the RDW, confirmed that it has approved an update capping the speed margin at 10% and officially renaming “FSD Supervised” to Tesla Assisted Driving.
What Happened
The RDW, which initially approved the system in April, stated that the update introduces “several minor changes” requested by Tesla. The previous configuration allowed the system to deviate from the speed limit by up to 50% for “safety and traffic flow,” meaning a 100 km/h highway limit could be overridden by a target speed of 150 km/h. Under the new rules, the maximum deviation is 10%, and the setting resets to 0% each time the vehicle starts. Other speed-related functions are now disabled by default, though the regulator did not specify which ones.
The name change to Tesla Assisted Driving will appear on in-car displays and in owner’s manuals for HW4 vehicles, pushed via over-the-air update. The RDW emphasized that the renaming does not alter the system’s function; it remains a driver-assistance tool with the driver retaining responsibility. The regulator notified the nine other member states that currently recognize its approval: Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
Why It Matters
This update arrives weeks before EU member states could vote on approving the system across the entire bloc, scheduled for December at the earliest. The changes align with conditions set by Germany’s Transport Ministry in October, which stated it would support EU-wide approval only if Tesla dropped the “Full Self-Driving” name and capped speed tolerance at 10%. Speeding has been a primary objection in Brussels, with Sweden requesting the removal of any setting above the posted limit and a Brussels pedestrian safety group reporting that the system exceeded limits in 55% of tested 30 km/h zones.
While the update secures Germany’s potential support, it does not meet Sweden’s stricter demand for zero tolerance above the limit. The EU-wide decision rests with the Technical Committee on Motor Vehicles (TCMV), requiring a qualified majority of 15 member states representing at least 65% of the EU population. The RDW noted that TCMV talks are confidential and declined to comment on the likelihood of success.
The Bottom Line
Tesla has adjusted its European software to meet German regulatory conditions, renaming the system and restricting speed margins to 10% over the limit. Whether these changes are sufficient to secure the qualified majority needed for EU-wide approval remains uncertain, particularly given Sweden’s continued objection to any speed tolerance above posted limits.
