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Flanders Grants Permission for Teslas Full Self-Driving on Public Roads
On 11 June 2026 the Flemish Ministry of Mobility authorised the use of Tesla’s Full Self‑Driving (FSD) system on all Belgian roads. The decision, announced by Minister Annick De Ridder of the New Flemish Alliance, follows a month‑long testing period that began in May. The approval applies to all vehicles equipped with Tesla’s FSD software, which allows the car to steer, stay within its lane, and change lanes automatically. Drivers must remain alert and able to intervene at any time, and they retain overall responsibility for the vehicle.
The FSD system is a Level 2 driver‑assist technology. It can navigate on most roads, park itself, and summon the car from a parking space, but it requires continuous driver supervision. The Flemish minister emphasized that the system can contribute to road safety because it exhibits a defensive driving style and can react more quickly and consistently than human drivers in certain situations.
Flanders is not the first European region to approve the technology. The Netherlands granted approval in April after a period of intensive testing. De Ridder said that the Dutch approval was preceded by an intensive testing period and that cooperation with the Dutch National Road Traffic Authority (RDW) allowed access to test data. This shortened the Flemish test period, which was still required to assess differences in road infrastructure and highway code between the Netherlands and Belgium.
Tesla’s FSD has been tested extensively in the United States. In Belgium, the company completed the 5,000‑kilometre testing requirement, a milestone reported on 4 June 2026. The company also completed 13,000 test drives in the Netherlands, covering 1.6 million kilometres of European roads. These figures were cited by De Ridder as evidence that the technology is ready for deployment.
The system is described by Tesla as “mostly self‑driving.” Steven Latré, Head of AI at the Imec research centre, explained that the car can drive autonomously 98 % of the time but still requires driver assistance in certain situations. He noted that the vehicle can stop for pedestrians, at zebra crossings, and can turn left and right, but sometimes needs a nudge from the driver. Latré also said that the car will switch to a more manual mode if the driver’s eyes are off the road.
Despite the high level of automation, the Flemish minister stressed that ultimate responsibility remains with the driver. The approval does not mean that drivers can sit back and read a newspaper while the car drives. The system is designed to alert drivers to intervene if necessary.
The decision is part of a broader European trend. According to a series of reports, Belgium is the fifth European country to approve a version of Tesla’s FSD technology. The approval is provisional and subject to the European Union’s type‑approval process. The European motor‑vehicle committee has scheduled further discussion of the system for its June 30 meeting.
The Flemish government has expressed confidence that the technology will improve safety on its roads. The minister said that the system’s defensive driving style could reduce accidents caused by driver fatigue or inattention. However, the approval also raises questions about the readiness of Belgium’s road network for autonomous vehicles.
Tesla’s FSD remains a Level 2 system and is not fully autonomous. The company’s branding has drawn criticism for potentially misleading consumers, and collisions involving the system have attracted scrutiny from media and regulators. The Flemish approval does not change the fact that drivers must remain in control.
The current situation is that Tesla vehicles equipped with the FSD software can now be driven on Belgian roads under the conditions set by the Flemish Ministry of Mobility. The approval is provisional, pending the European Union’s final type‑approval. Tesla has completed the required kilometres of testing in Belgium and the Netherlands, and the company is preparing for a broader rollout across Europe.
The decision is expected to influence other European markets. Discussions are underway in Ireland and Denmark, where regulators are reviewing autonomous driving rules. The Flemish approval is a milestone in the gradual expansion of autonomous vehicle technology across the continent.
The Flemish Ministry of Mobility will monitor the deployment of FSD vehicles and may adjust regulations as more data becomes available. Tesla will continue to collect data from its fleet to improve the system’s performance and safety.
The approval marks a significant step in the integration of autonomous driving technology into everyday life in Belgium, but it also underscores the continued need for driver vigilance and regulatory oversight.
The FSD system is a Level 2 driver‑assist technology. It can navigate on most roads, park itself, and summon the car from a parking space, but it requires continuous driver supervision. The Flemish minister emphasized that the system can contribute to road safety because it exhibits a defensive driving style and can react more quickly and consistently than human drivers in certain situations.
Flanders is not the first European region to approve the technology. The Netherlands granted approval in April after a period of intensive testing. De Ridder said that the Dutch approval was preceded by an intensive testing period and that cooperation with the Dutch National Road Traffic Authority (RDW) allowed access to test data. This shortened the Flemish test period, which was still required to assess differences in road infrastructure and highway code between the Netherlands and Belgium.
Tesla’s FSD has been tested extensively in the United States. In Belgium, the company completed the 5,000‑kilometre testing requirement, a milestone reported on 4 June 2026. The company also completed 13,000 test drives in the Netherlands, covering 1.6 million kilometres of European roads. These figures were cited by De Ridder as evidence that the technology is ready for deployment.
The system is described by Tesla as “mostly self‑driving.” Steven Latré, Head of AI at the Imec research centre, explained that the car can drive autonomously 98 % of the time but still requires driver assistance in certain situations. He noted that the vehicle can stop for pedestrians, at zebra crossings, and can turn left and right, but sometimes needs a nudge from the driver. Latré also said that the car will switch to a more manual mode if the driver’s eyes are off the road.
Despite the high level of automation, the Flemish minister stressed that ultimate responsibility remains with the driver. The approval does not mean that drivers can sit back and read a newspaper while the car drives. The system is designed to alert drivers to intervene if necessary.
The decision is part of a broader European trend. According to a series of reports, Belgium is the fifth European country to approve a version of Tesla’s FSD technology. The approval is provisional and subject to the European Union’s type‑approval process. The European motor‑vehicle committee has scheduled further discussion of the system for its June 30 meeting.
The Flemish government has expressed confidence that the technology will improve safety on its roads. The minister said that the system’s defensive driving style could reduce accidents caused by driver fatigue or inattention. However, the approval also raises questions about the readiness of Belgium’s road network for autonomous vehicles.
Tesla’s FSD remains a Level 2 system and is not fully autonomous. The company’s branding has drawn criticism for potentially misleading consumers, and collisions involving the system have attracted scrutiny from media and regulators. The Flemish approval does not change the fact that drivers must remain in control.
The current situation is that Tesla vehicles equipped with the FSD software can now be driven on Belgian roads under the conditions set by the Flemish Ministry of Mobility. The approval is provisional, pending the European Union’s final type‑approval. Tesla has completed the required kilometres of testing in Belgium and the Netherlands, and the company is preparing for a broader rollout across Europe.
The decision is expected to influence other European markets. Discussions are underway in Ireland and Denmark, where regulators are reviewing autonomous driving rules. The Flemish approval is a milestone in the gradual expansion of autonomous vehicle technology across the continent.
The Flemish Ministry of Mobility will monitor the deployment of FSD vehicles and may adjust regulations as more data becomes available. Tesla will continue to collect data from its fleet to improve the system’s performance and safety.
The approval marks a significant step in the integration of autonomous driving technology into everyday life in Belgium, but it also underscores the continued need for driver vigilance and regulatory oversight.
