Politics

France authorizes road tests for Tesla's autonomous driving

Following a meeting with Elon Musk, France will begin road tests for Tesla's FSD technology after safety concerns were addressed.

4 September 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: France authorizes road tests for Tesla's autonomous driving — Archive photoPhoto: Steve Jurvetson · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

France has announced the authorization for road tests of Tesla vehicles equipped with the supervised autonomous driving system, known as Full Self-Driving (FSD). This decision comes six weeks after authorities deemed the system not sufficiently safe.

Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot met with Elon Musk on Wednesday to discuss the FSD technology. Following this meeting, Tabarot stated that the country is set to take a significant step towards approving Tesla's autonomous driving.

The authorization aligns with a trend in Europe, where several countries, including the Netherlands, are also moving forward with tests of autonomous driving systems. This collaboration is seen as an effort to promote technology and reduce the number of accidents on the roads.

Sources indicate that the first road trials for two Tesla vehicles could begin soon, marking a new phase in the development of the FSD system. This advancement was positively commented on by Tabarot, who described it as an important breakthrough.

The meeting between Musk and the minister was characterized as a constructive exchange, indicating that there was a productive dialogue about integrating autonomous driving technologies into French transportation infrastructure.

As France prepares for these tests, the evolution of regulations and safety considerations continues to be a priority in discussions about the use of autonomous vehicles in the country.

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