Tesla recently expanded Full Self-Driving (Supervised) demo rides to several European countries, including France, Italy, and Germany. These sessions allowed owners and potential buyers to experience the technology on local roads.
A recent video featured Steven Peeters and Kees Roelandschap driving through Lille, France. Steven, a well-known Tesla tester, joined Kees, a regulations expert, to examine how the system handled typical European scenarios.
European roads often feature dense traffic, frequent cyclists, and uneven surfaces. These conditions were enough to put any autonomous system through its paces!
Why Are European Roads Such A Challenge?
Many European cities have narrow streets, busy roundabouts, and varying road quality. Pedestrians and cyclists are often present, and local driving rules add another layer of complexity. The demo put these real-world factors front and center.
How Did Tesla FSD Perform over Roundabouts?
Roundabouts are very common across Europe and demand quick judgment on speed, yielding, and lane choice.
Entry and Circulation
The vehicle entered roundabouts at suitable speeds and merged without hesitation. It yielded correctly and maintained smooth circulation.
Busier and Multi-Lane Examples
In larger roundabouts with heavier traffic, the car selected the proper lane and exited cleanly. Steven and Kees remarked that the decisions felt natural and planned, much like a human driver.
How Did FSD Handle Narrow Streets and Tight Spots?
Europe’s narrow roads are frequently lined with parked vehicles, and traffic is often met by large oncoming vehicles such as trucks, leaving very little room for cars to pass.
Positioning in Close Quarters
The system slowed deliberately and threaded through the tight gaps. It judged distances accurately, even beside buses and trucks. It was noted that human drivers would likely stop or be far more hesitant, whereas the “computer” can gauge gaps with greater precision than the human eye.
Passenger Confidence
Kees noted that he gained complete trust in the handling within minutes. He described the precision in these situations as particularly impressive.
How Did the Car Manage Potholes and Speed Bumps?
Many European streets have damaged road surfaces due to varying weather and also a significant amount of traffic calming measures.
Pothole Navigation
The vehicle generally took a straight path over potholes to preserve its driving path. Passengers felt the usual impacts whilst driving over them, but the car stayed under control. In ideal circumstances, the vehicle should have tried to avoid potholes when it was safe to do so, but failed in some of the tests.
These failures are more about the experience than anything to do with safety. That being said, Tesla’s end-to-end approach to FSD should mean that with more data, pothole avoidance can be added in a future update.
Speed Bump Performance
It slowed appropriately for most speed bumps. A few, however, were taken at a higher speed than ideal. Both testers expected that additional data would improve consistency here.
Here is a summary of observed performance:
| Scenario | FSD Behavior | Observations from Steven and Kees |
|---|---|---|
| Roundabouts | Proper speed and lane selection | Natural and confident flow |
| Narrow Streets | Careful slowing and precise placement | Handled tight passes better than many drivers |
| Potholes | Straight-line approach | Stable despite feeling some impacts |
| Speed Bumps | Slowed for most | Consistency expected to improve with more data |
How Did Steven and Kees React?
Steven compared the driving style to riding with older family members, and Kees expressed comfort with the system and praised its clear on-screen prompts.
Both highlighted the need for a cautious approach in mixed traffic. They also discussed how slight speed increases during overtakes felt safer in practice while still needing fine-tuning for full regulatory approval.
Watch the complete demo here: https://youtu.be/ftlw8IbKDRw.
For background on Tesla’s current features, visit the official FSD support page: https://www.tesla.com/support/fsd
What Are the Relevant UNECE Regulations?
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe establishes standards that apply across the continent and other areas of the world, too. Regulation No. 79 governs steering assistance and sets limits on advanced driver assistance systems.
Compliance for Supervised Systems
Current rules permit Level 2 operation, where the driver must remain attentive and ready to intervene. Tesla FSD (Supervised) appeared to meet these requirements fully during the demo.
Outlook for Future Rules
New frameworks for more advanced urban driving are in development. Ongoing tests like these contribute valuable data to regulators. Details are available on the UNECE automated driving page: https://unece.org/transport/vehicle-regulations/automated-driving
As the technology advances, likely benefits include:
- Reduced driver fatigue on longer trips
- More consistent speed management
- Improved awareness of cyclists and pedestrians
- Greater overall traffic efficiency
Special thanks to Steven Peeters and Kees Roelandschap for sharing this insightful demo and commentary.
- Steven Peeters YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StevenPeeters
- Steven on X: https://x.com/aikisteve
- Kees on X: https://x.com/KRoelandschap
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tesla Full Self-Driving (Supervised)?
It is an advanced driver assistance system that controls steering, acceleration, and braking. The driver must stay alert and prepared to take over.
When might unsupervised FSD become available in Europe?
Supervised demos were active through late 2025. Full unsupervised operation awaits further regulatory approvals, possibly in 2026 or later.
Does performance differ across European countries?
Yes. Mapping quality and local signage affect results. Well-mapped urban areas showed the strongest outcomes.
How does the system perform in poor weather?
Development continues for rain, fog, and night conditions. Public demos at the time focused primarily on clear weather.
How can I book a demo ride?
Availability varies by country. Check the Tesla app or local Tesla website for current options.
Final Thoughts
The recent European demo rides demonstrated evident progress on some of the continent’s most difficult driving scenarios. While areas like speed bump detection still needed refinement, the overall handling earned genuine praise from experienced testers.
The supervised model appeared to remain fully compliant with existing regulations, and continued real-world testing provides essential feedback for future approvals.
Join the free newsletter for updates to the FSD program in your area.
Subscribe