Tesla's Full Self-Driving technology is set to expand to Japan in 2026, according to the president of its Japanese subsidiary. Employee test drives have already shown positive results, paving the way for regulatory approval. This move comes amid strong sales growth for the company in the country.
Richi Hashimoto, president of Tesla’s Japanese subsidiary, has announced that the company aims to implement Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology in Japan by 2026. He stated, “We are aiming for implementation in 2026. [We are] doing everything in our power [to achieve this].”
Test drives of FSD began with Tesla employees in 2025, starting with the Model 3 in August and expanding to the Model Y on March 5, 2026. These trials received positive media reviews, highlighting Japan's orderly traffic and strict safety culture as ideal conditions for autonomous driving development.
Upon regulatory approval, over-the-air software updates could enable FSD on approximately 40,000 Tesla vehicles already operating on Japanese roads. This expansion aligns with Tesla's broader efforts to grow its driver-assistance features globally, despite past bureaucratic challenges.
Tesla's momentum in Japan is evident in its sales figures. In 2025, the company delivered a record 10,600 vehicles, marking a nearly 90% increase from the previous year and the first time surpassing 10,000 units annually. Under Hashimoto's leadership, Tesla shifted from online-only sales to establishing 29 physical showrooms in high-traffic malls, alongside staff training and new financing options introduced in January 2026.
Additionally, Tesla plans to expand its Supercharger network to over 1,000 points by 2027, improving accessibility for electric vehicles in the region. These developments position Japan as a key market in Tesla's international push for sustainable mobility.
