Latvia approves Tesla's driving system

Tesla announced on Monday, October 26, via its X account that Latvia has authorized its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, which is now called "Tesla Assisted Driving" in Europe. The system allows for automated driving features under certain conditions, though the company usually only states that deployment will happen "soon" without a specific date.

Baltic countries approve the system

Along with Lithuania and Estonia, the three Baltic countries have now all approved the system. Tesla is advancing country by country, using the same documentation for each approval, which streamlines the process across different regions.

Certification spreads across Europe

On April 10, the Dutch vehicle authority (RDW) certified the system, with validity limited to the Netherlands. European rules allow each state to recognize this certification for its own roads. Lithuania did so on May 20, then Estonia on May 29, Denmark and Belgium in June, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, and Croatia in September, and finally Slovakia on October 16.

Latvia's careful approval process

Six months of negotiation in Latvia saw Riga not sign blindly. While Tesla had submitted its application on April 13, the Latvian Road Safety Directorate (CSDD) requested additional information, notably on winter driving, according to local media uzladets. When the institution conducted its own tests of the software, it identified three defects: failure to respect traffic lights, incorrect lane selection, and poor adherence to speed limits.

Software adjustments and road conditions

Tesla has since modified its software according to the Latvian authority: reduced speed limit tolerance, manual speed reset to zero after each trip, and enhanced driver monitoring. The CSDD also warned that snow, mud, and de-icing salt could disrupt the system's operation on Latvian roads. On gravel roads, the system might function only partially and suddenly return control to the driver.

EU certification requires majority support

For certification valid throughout the European Union, Tesla must obtain a qualified majority during the vote of the European Technical Committee for Vehicles (TCMV), meaning at least 15 of the 27 member states representing at least 65% of the EU population. Germany advocates for a rapid certification without having granted it yet, and France, Italy, and Spain have not yet recognized the Dutch green light.