France has begun road tests of two Tesla vehicles fitted with the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, in a move that could influence a forthcoming European decision on the technology.
Transport minister Philippe Tabarot announced the tests on Wednesday, September 2, after what he described as a “constructive exchange” with Tesla chief executive Elon Musk. Tesla has supplied the two vehicles for assessment on French roads.
The French government is carrying out its own checks to examine data submitted by Tesla and the Dutch road authority, which provisionally approved the system for use in the Netherlands in April. Belgium, Denmark, Estonia and Lithuania have since followed suit.
FSD is marketed as an advanced driver-assistance system rather than fully autonomous driving. It can control a car’s acceleration, braking and steering, but a driver must remain alert and ready to take over at all times.
France had previously expressed reservations about authorising the system. In July, Mr Tabarot said the safety safeguards were not yet sufficient, citing concerns including speed-limit compliance and warnings designed to ensure drivers remain attentive.
The latest tests are intended to determine whether technical changes made by Tesla address those concerns and how the system performs in French traffic conditions. A French transport ministry source said officials hoped to have results by the middle or latter part of September.
The findings could help France decide its position ahead of a vote at European level on whether the system should be approved across the bloc. That vote could take place as early as October or in early December, according to the ministry source.
Tesla’s French website currently states that Full Self-Driving (Supervised) is not available for purchase in France and remains subject to regulatory approval. It also stresses that the system does not make a vehicle autonomous and requires active supervision by the driver.
