Italian Senator Files Parliamentary Inquiry on Tesla FSD Supervised Approval

6 May 2026 Italy 5 min read

Italian Senator Carlo Calenda has submitted a formal parliamentary inquiry (Atto di Sindacato Ispettivo) directed at the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, urging the government to prioritize the approval of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system in Italy.

The Parliamentary Inquiry

On 28 April 2026, during session No. 415 of the 19th legislature, Senator Carlo Calenda (of the Azione party) filed the inquiry (document n. 4-02971). The filing asks the minister to evaluate whether the government intends to prioritize Tesla FSD (Supervised) approval and to consider direct technical engagement with Tesla and the Dutch vehicle authority (RDW) to accelerate the authorization process ahead of upcoming European-level meetings.

The senator also requested an indication of the expected timeline for approval in Italy. He highlighted that the Netherlands became the first EU country to approve FSD Supervised in April 2026 and that Spain’s Directorate General for Traffic has already received a formal request to fast-track its process on the back of the Dutch decision. Calenda further noted the tens of thousands of Tesla vehicles already on Italian roads equipped with the necessary hardware.

The inquiry references the Dutch RDW provisional type-approval under UN Regulation 171 and calls for Italy to take proactive steps rather than wait solely on the EU Technical Committee on Motor Vehicles (TCMV) process.

— Senatore Carlo Calenda, Atto di Sindacato Ispettivo n. 4-02971 (Senato della Repubblica)

This marks the first formal political push in the Italian parliament specifically targeting Tesla FSD Supervised approval.

Ministry Position and EU Context

Italy’s Transport Ministry has previously told Tesla owners that “no decision has yet been taken at the European level.” The ministry emphasized that provisional type-approval “has national validity and it is at the discretion of each individual Member State to decide whether to accept such type-approval on its own territory.”

Current Status and Outlook

The formal inquiry from Senator Calenda represents growing political momentum in Italy to move forward on FSD Supervised, independent of (but informed by) the ongoing EU process. Tesla owners in Italy can expect further updates as the government responds to the inquiry and the European Technical Committee advances its review. Subscribe to the mailing list for updates.

FAQ

What is the Atto di Sindacato Ispettivo filed by Senator Calenda?

It is a formal parliamentary inquiry (Legislatura 19ª - Atto di Sindacato Ispettivo n. 4-02971) submitted on 28 April 2026 by Senator Carlo Calenda to the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport. It asks the government to clarify its plans for approving Tesla FSD (Supervised) in Italy.

What specific actions is the government being asked to take?

The inquiry asks whether the government intends to prioritize FSD approval, to evaluate direct technical engagement with Tesla and the Dutch RDW authority to accelerate the process ahead of EU-level meetings, and to indicate the expected timeline for approval in Italy.

What has the Italian Ministry said about FSD approval so far?

In response to a Tesla owner, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport stated that “no decision has yet been taken at the European level.” It noted that provisional type-approval “has national validity and it is at the discretion of each individual Member State to decide whether to accept such type-approval on its own territory.”

How does this relate to the EU process and other countries?

The inquiry references the Netherlands’ April 2026 RDW approval of FSD Supervised and Spain’s request to fast-track on the same basis. Italy is monitoring the EU Technical Committee on Motor Vehicles process while the parliamentary push seeks to accelerate national action.