Tesla pressures Dutch regulators to approve Full Self-Driving technology

RDW: RDW is the Dutch government agency responsible for vehicle safety assessments and approvals. It conducted the review of Tesla's Full Self-Driving system that led to the first national approval in Europe and influenced the broader EU process. The regulator has corresponded extensively with Tesla on testing methods, costs, and timelines while asserting its independent evaluation approach. Tesla: Tesla is an electric vehicle manufacturer developing advanced driver-assistance systems including Full Self-Driving technology. The company is actively lobbying European regulators for approval of FSD across the EU following initial national signoffs. Its efforts include direct engagement with officials, submission of safety research, and public communications highlighting claimed benefits of the system. Daniel McGehee: Daniel McGehee is an engineering professor and director of the University of Iowa's Driving Safety Research Institute. He examined Tesla's FSD safety study and described it as potentially useful evidence of system performance that nonetheless falls short of demonstrating life-saving effects. Marco Benedetti: Marco Benedetti is an assistant research scientist at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute and former statistician at the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. He reviewed Tesla's European safety research and noted that claims about lives saved go beyond what the data can support. Expert Scrutiny: Traffic safety researchers have identified limitations in Tesla's methodology for comparing FSD driving behaviors to those of ordinary drivers. Public Engagement: Tesla has used social media to encourage customers and supporters to contact European regulators about FSD approvals. Regulatory Process: Tesla must secure support from a qualified majority of EU member states for Europe-wide approval of its driver-assistance technology.