Tesla Renames 'Full Self-Driving' to 'Tesla Assisted Driving' in Europe
After objections from Germany's transport ministry, Tesla has changed the name of its driver assistance system in Europe to 'Tesla Assisted Driving'. Minister Steffen Bilger has pledged to push for its approval across Europe.
Electric carmaker Tesla has changed the name of its advanced driver assistance system in Europe. The previous 'Full Self-Driving (Supervised)' label has been replaced by 'Tesla Assisted Driving'. The move followed objections from Germany's transport ministry, and it could ease the system's path to approval in the European market, potentially opening a significant new revenue stream for the company.
The ministry's objections
German transport minister Steffen Bilger said earlier this month that the 'Full Self-Driving' name was somewhat misleading because the software does not perform the whole task of driving. According to an official ministry release, he spoke with Tesla last month, and the company itself proposed the rename. The old name had been used for years, even though the system requires a human to watch the road and take over when needed.
Bilger now intends to advocate for approval of 'Tesla Assisted Driving' across Europe ahead of an EU-wide vote that could take place later this year. Tesla CEO Elon Musk thanked the minister on X this week.
A long campaign for approval
Musk has pushed for years to get the system approved in Europe. In June 2025 he wrote on X that it would save the lives of people in the car as well as vulnerable road users. In March this year he claimed the EU's 'extreme regulatory burden' stifles innovation. A few weeks later, the Netherlands became the first European country to approve the system.
On Wednesday, Reuters reported that Tesla's push for European approval was built on faulty company safety research, and that the Dutch vehicle safety regulator RDW faced fierce pressure from Tesla and its online supporters.
Capabilities and criticism
The software has grown more capable over the years, and some owners use it for nearly all of their daily driving. It can pull into and out of parking spots and navigate surface streets and highways. Tesla recently allowed it to intervene if it senses an oncoming collision, even when it is not active.
Still, the system has been at the center of federal investigations and civil lawsuits over crashes in which it was allegedly in use. Its less capable predecessor, Autopilot, has been linked to dozens of fatalities. Tesla discontinued Autopilot earlier this year after a judge ruled the company had engaged in deceptive marketing about its capabilities.
