Tesla claims to have tested its Supervised Fully Autonomous Driving system on 195,000 km of French roads. According to figures released by the manufacturer, no "significant incidents" were recorded during these tests.
More than 60% of tests carried out off-highway
More than 60% of the kilometers were reportedly driven on urban and rural roads. The software was therefore subjected to environments including intersections, roundabouts, speed limit changes, narrow lanes, cyclists, and pedestrians. Tesla also released footage showing its vehicles driving on the French road network. The company now offers demonstrations from the passenger seat, with a specially trained driver remaining in control of the vehicle.
A car capable of accelerating, braking, and turning
The FSD system, for Full Self DrivingIt can control acceleration, braking, and steering. It is also designed to follow a route, change lanes, navigate certain intersections, and respond to traffic lights or stop signs. Despite its marketing name, this system does not transform the Tesla into a fully autonomous car. The driver must remain vigilant, keep their hands on the wheel, and be able to immediately regain control. Tesla officially presents this technology as an advanced driver assistance system.
Tesla directly addresses France's concerns
The publication of these results comes just days after France refused to support European authorization of the software in its current version. Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot had cited risks related to speed limit compliance and a possible decrease in driver attention. France believes that the safety guarantees remain insufficient to authorize the system in its current form. However, it is continuing technical discussions with the Netherlands and other relevant European countries.
Several European countries have already given their agreement
The Netherlands granted provisional approval for FSD in April 2026. Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, and Lithuania subsequently adopted a similar position, pending a possible decision at the European Union level. France became the first European government to publicly oppose the Dutch authorities' approval process. Elon Musk responded that the delay in FSD authorization in France could, in his view, "cost lives."
Tesla also presents a European balance sheet
The manufacturer claims that its supervised driving system was 5,2 times safer than manual driving over the past four months. This comparison is reportedly based on 65 million kilometers driven in five European countries. However, Tesla did not release, with its French announcement, the full details of the journeys, any instances of driver intervention, or the methodology used to define a "significant incident." The 195,000 km total therefore remains a figure provided by the company.
No immediate opening to French motorists
These trials do not mean that Tesla owners can already freely use the full FSD in France. Demonstrations remain supervised and conducted with a driver responsible for continuously monitoring the vehicle's behavior. Commercial deployment now depends on regulatory discussions and potential European approval. Pending this decision, Tesla is leveraging its 195,000 km of driving experience in France to defend the safety of its software against government concerns.
