Tesla Renames Full Self-driving To Assisted Driving In Europe
Tesla has changed the European name of its driver-assistance system as it seeks broader regulatory approval, but drivers must still supervise it.
Tesla has renamed its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) feature in Europe to Tesla Assisted Driving as it seeks permission to offer the system more widely on public roads. The new name reflects a central limitation: although the software can perform driving tasks, a human driver must remain attentive and ready to intervene.
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Why the name changed
Germany’s transport minister, Steffen Bilger, considered “Full Self-Driving” somewhat misleading because the system does not perform the entire driving task, according to statements from the German Transport Ministry described by Wired and TechCrunch. After talks with Bilger last month, Tesla offered to change the name. Bilger said he would now advocate for European approval of the feature.
Wired reported that Tesla began using the Tesla Assisted Driving name on its European sales website on Friday. The outlet said Tesla did not immediately respond to its request for comment. An EU-wide vote on approval could take place later this year, according to both reports; the name change does not itself amount to approval.
What the software does—and what remains under review
The system can accelerate, brake, steer and park, Wired reported. TechCrunch said it can also navigate streets and highways. But Tesla requires drivers to watch the road and take over when needed. TechCrunch described the change as a significant concession for a company that has used the Full Self-Driving name for years.
The reports differ in how they describe the Netherlands’ earlier decision. Wired said the country granted Tesla provisional permission to launch the feature this past spring, while TechCrunch called it an approval. Both describe the Netherlands as the first European country to take that step.
Approval efforts also face scrutiny over Tesla’s safety claims. Wired said Reuters reported this week that Tesla presented misleading safety data to European regulators. TechCrunch characterized Reuters’ findings as identifying faulty company safety research and flawed studies in Tesla’s campaign. Those are reported allegations, not findings established by the European vote.
A naming dispute beyond Europe
Tesla has faced objections to its terminology in the United States, too. According to Wired, California’s Department of Motor Vehicles concluded last year that the company’s use of “Full Self-Driving” and “Autopilot” was misleading and violated state law. Wired said Tesla subsequently stopped using the Autopilot term and continued adding “(Supervised)” to Full Self-Driving’s official name.
The software has improved since its introduction in 2020, drivers told Wired, but it has also drawn federal scrutiny. Wired reported that a US government probe opened in March following nine incidents in which the system allegedly failed to respond to reduced visibility or warn drivers to take over. For Tesla, wider European availability could create a substantial software revenue opportunity, both outlets said, though approval remains pending.
Sources
This story was compiled by AI from the reports below. Read the originals for the full details.