Tesla's request for FSD testing in Stockholm was rejected, contrary to assumed motives
Tesla's Full Self-Driving Testing Rejected in Stockholm
Tesla's request to test its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology in city streets of Stockholm, Sweden, has been denied. The Traffic Office in Stockholm has cited safety concerns as the primary reason for the rejection.
The decision adds to the challenges Tesla is facing in Sweden, where a prolonged dispute between the company and Swedish labour unions has been ongoing since late 2023. The Traffic Office's decision comes amidst evidence of safety risks and external incidents involving Tesla's FSD in other regions.
Last year, Tesla demonstrated FSD to a Swedish transportation official, but the test took place in Germany. The European approach focuses on strict regulatory compliance to ensure minimum safety and environmental standards before approving such technologies commercially. As a result, Sweden's regulatory framework requires rigorous independent approval (homologation) rather than Tesla's self-certification method used in the U.S.
Stockholm officials prioritized caution based on evidence of remaining safety risks and external incidents involving Tesla's FSD. The city's Traffic Office is currently stretched thin by existing pilot programs and other innovation projects, making it too busy to handle the new and city-wide FSD test.
The rejection has triggered sympathy strikes in neighboring countries, affecting service operations, delays in opening new Supercharger stations, and delays in customers receiving license plates for their new cars.
While Tesla has conducted demonstrations of FSD in Norway, Germany, Italy, and other parts of Europe, many European countries remain hesitant about city-wide testing of advanced driver assistance technologies. China has approved FSD deployments under a different name, and Tesla's FSD Supervised testing is pending regulatory approval in Rome, Italy.
However, public testing of FSD in Europe has yet to take place, with European countries opting to delay city-wide testing until more comprehensive regulatory frameworks are in place. Tesla enthusiasts argue that delaying FSD could increase traffic fatalities, but safety concerns remain the top priority for regulators.
Tesla has offered a referral link providing three months of Full Self-Driving for those buying a Tesla, but the Swedish market may have to wait for the technology to be approved and proven safe before it becomes available.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/tesla-faces-challenges-sweden-over-self-driving-car-testing-2021-10-21 [2] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-10-21/tesla-faces-challenges-in-sweden-over-self-driving-car-testing [4] https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-sweden-self-driving-test-denied-stockholm/
- Given the denial of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) testing in city streets of Stockholm due to safety concerns, the automotive industry will continue to watch closely as different regions approach the integration of advanced driver assistance technologies.
- In light of the ongoing dispute between Tesla and Swedish labour unions, and the Traffic Office's rejection of FSD testing, the company may need to reconsider its strategy for marketing and promoting the technology in the European finance sector.
