Tesla commences supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) testing in the United Kingdom following demonstrations in Australia.
Tesla Demonstrates Full Self-Driving Capabilities in London and Sydney
Tesla has taken a significant step forward in the development of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, showcasing the technology's capabilities in both London and Sydney.
In a video released on Tesla's Europe X account in late July 2025, a right-hand-drive Model 3 was seen navigating the busy streets of London, autonomously driving around key landmarks such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and Trafalgar Square. The video did not show any driver input during the trip, reflecting Tesla's progress towards unsupervised FSD operation.
However, it's important to note that the full rollout of unsupervised FSD features to UK drivers is still pending regulatory approval, expected as early as 2026 when the UK government plans to allow driverless taxi services without safety drivers.
Meanwhile, in Sydney, Tesla has started supervised testing of its FSD system. Thom Drew, Tesla's country director, confirmed that there are no regulatory blockers for the software to be rolled out in right-hand-drive markets of Australia and New Zealand. In a video released earlier, the car was seen going around a roundabout with the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House visible in the background, demonstrating the system’s ability to handle urban challenges such as roundabouts in right-hand-drive vehicles.
Riz Akhtar, a mechanical engineer and founder of carloop in Melbourne, specializing in Australian EV data, insight reports, and trends, was among those who saw the video. Akhtar, who currently drives a red Tesla Model 3, has a passion for cars, particularly EVs, and wants to help reduce transport emissions in Australia.
This is not the first time FSD supervised testing has been observed in a right-hand-drive market. Previously, in May, Tesla released a video showing FSD testing in Melbourne, Australia. The rollout of FSD supervised software will start on hardware 4 (HW4) before further releases in phases to more Tesla vehicles in our market.
As Tesla continues to make progress in the development and testing of its FSD system, it remains contingent on approval from regulators. The company stated that full-drive through London, UK, FSD is pending regulatory approval, aligning with broader government plans to permit driverless taxi services in the near future.
In summary, Tesla is actively testing FSD with supervision in the UK and awaits regulatory clearance for unsupervised operation, aligned with broader government plans to permit driverless taxi services in the near future. The videos released by Tesla serve as a testament to the company's ongoing commitment to advancing autonomous driving technology.
- The technology demonstrated by Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system in London and Sydney has significant implications for the automotive industry, particularly electric-vehicles.
- As Tesla's FSD system undergoes supervised testing in Sydney, it showcases the technology's ability to handle urban challenges such as roundabouts in right-hand-drive vehicles, which could revolutionize the transportation sector.
- With the potential for driverless taxi services without safety drivers set to become a reality in the UK, the finance industry must adapt to these changes, considering the impact on insurance, infrastructure, and economy.
- As Tesla continues to push the boundaries of autonomous driving technology, lifestyle choices and dependency on cars may significantly evolve, with technology playing a pivotal role in shaping future transportation and urban landscapes.
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