Exclusive: Tesla Misled EU Regulators with 'Full Self‑Driving' Safety Data

• Tesla's safety claims are based on flawed comparisons, including using airbag-deployment crashes versus all U.S. crashes (including minor ones), and comparing new Teslas to much older average vehicles with fewer safety features
• Dutch regulator RDW approved FSD in April 2024 after testing and is now seeking EU-wide approval; Swedish and Greek regulators also received Tesla's data, though Sweden says it 'looks beyond headline figures'
• Independent researchers called Tesla's claim that FSD could save 32,000 lives 'highly misleading' as it assumes every U.S. vehicle would be replaced by an FSD-enabled Tesla that is seven times safer

Tesla Misled EU Regulators with 'Full Self-Driving' Safety Data

Tesla has presented questionable safety statistics to European regulators while seeking approval for its "Full Self-Driving" (FSD) system, according to a Reuters investigation. The company claims FSD is up to 10 times safer than human drivers, but independent traffic-safety researchers have labeled these figures as misleading marketing.

Key Findings

Reuters identified several flawed data comparisons in Tesla's safety claims:

• Tesla compares FSD crashes triggering airbag deployments against all U.S. vehicle crashes, including minor accidents
• The company benchmarks against average U.S. vehicles, which are significantly older than Teslas and lack modern safety features
• Tesla's presentation claimed FSD could save 32,000 lives and prevent 1.9 million injuries—figures researchers call "highly misleading" based on unrealistic assumptions

Regulatory Activity

In November 2024, Tesla submitted inflated safety data to RDW, the Dutch regulator, claiming FSD "leads to safer roads." After over a year of testing, RDW approved FSD in the Netherlands in April 2025 and is now pursuing EU-wide approval. The regulator stated it performs independent verification and doesn't rely on marketing claims, though it didn't confirm whether it assessed Tesla's U.S. statistics.

Sweden's Transport Agency said regulators "look beyond headline figures," while the European Transport Safety Council expressed concern over Tesla's "unreliable safety data."

Market Implications

FSD approval is critical for Tesla's European sales growth as the company attempts to regain market share against advancing Chinese EV makers. EU-wide approval requires votes from member states representing 55% of countries and 65% of the bloc's population. Greece has indicated plans to approve FSD, citing Tesla's Atlantic data.