France’s transport minister has said the country will not authorize Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system as it currently stands. Philippe Tabarot cited concerns over speeding and driver attention during urban maneuvers. The decision keeps France from following the Netherlands’ earlier national approval.
Tabarot stated that the safety trade-offs are not yet sufficient. He pointed to two main issues: the system allows drivers to exceed speed limits and does not guarantee an optimal level of driver attention in cities or during complex actions such as lane changes and roundabouts.
The minister emphasized that France supports the technology but insists on a harmonized European framework rather than accepting one country’s decision. Technical discussions with the Netherlands and other states continue, with a broader meeting of French autonomous-vehicle experts planned for this autumn.
Elon Musk responded on X that delaying approval in France will cost lives. Tesla has pointed to data from over 12 billion miles driven with the software, arguing that it produces fewer crashes than human drivers.
France joins Germany and Italy in taking a cautious stance, while five smaller EU countries have approved FSD for local testing. An EU-wide vote could occur in October.
