Tesla initiates supervised Full Self-Driving test demonstration in the United Kingdom following Australia
Tesla Tests Full Self-Driving in London, Awaits Regulatory Approval
Tesla has taken another step forward in its quest for full self-driving (FSD) capabilities, this time on the streets of London. The company shared a video of a right-hand-drive Model 3 undergoing supervised FSD testing in the UK capital.
The video, 2 minutes and 30 seconds long, was shared on Tesla's Europe X account and showcases the Tesla autonomously driving through traffic, stopping for pedestrians, and completing a journey around busy streets of London. Landmarks such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and Trafalgar Square are clearly visible in the footage.
While Tesla has demonstrated its FSD software navigating complex areas without human intervention in other parts of the world, the UK presents unique driving challenges and traffic behaviors. As such, Tesla's FSD testing in the UK currently operates in a "supervised" mode, indicating the driver must remain attentive and ready to take control.
Tesla vehicles equipped with the latest FSD hardware and software have been shown navigating busy UK streets and complex junctions in videos released by the company, illustrating supervised operation. However, full regulatory approval for unsupervised or fully autonomous use has not yet been granted.
Regulators in the UK are preparing the legal framework to allow driverless taxi services without safety drivers as early as 2026, which could pave the way for fully autonomous operations in the near future. The launch of FSD for UK customers with unsupervised functionality depends on this regulatory approval and proving the system’s safety on UK roads.
Industry experts note the technical success but emphasize the challenges for regulators to be confident that FSD can handle all scenarios, especially where human drivers might not always follow the rules. Thom Drew, the country director of Tesla in the UK, clarified on LinkedIn that there are no regulatory blockers for the software to be rolled out in right-hand-drive markets of Australia and New Zealand.
This is not the first time FSD supervised has been tested in a right-hand-drive market. In May this year, Tesla released a video of its supervised FSD being tested on Australian roads in Melbourne without any driver input. Riz Akhtar, the founder of Australian EV data company carloop based in Melbourne, is a mechanical engineer and a passionate EV advocate. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3.
The success of FSD in multiple global markets, including Australia and the UK, is crucial for Tesla's future plans in the autonomous vehicle industry. As the company continues to push the boundaries of autonomous driving technology, it will be interesting to see how the regulatory landscape evolves and when Tesla can offer unsupervised FSD to its customers in the UK and other markets.
[1] Tesla's FSD testing in the UK: https://www.tesla.com/news/tesla-full-self-driving-testing-in-the-uk [2] UK's regulatory framework for driverless vehicles: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/code-of-practice-for-automated-vehicle-trials/code-of-practice-for-automated-vehicle-trials [3] Tesla's Sydney FSD trip: https://www.tesla.com/news/tesla-full-self-driving-testing-in-sydney [4] Thom Drew's comments on FSD rollout in Australia and New Zealand: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/thomdrew_tesla-full-self-driving-australia-activity-6857361906156943360-TlzO [5] carloop specializes in Australian EV data, insight reports, and trends: https://carloop.co/
- The advancement of Tesla's full self-driving (FSD) technology is not limited to certain regions; it is currently being tested in right-hand-drive markets like the UK and Australia.
- The technology industry, particularly the automotive sector, is closely watching the progress of Tesla's FSD capabilities, as it could potentially reshape the transportation and lifestyle sectors with the rise of electric vehicles (EVs).
- Technology companies, including Tesla, are facing challenges in convincing regulators that their FSD systems can handle all driving scenarios, especially when compared to human behaviors on the road.
- The successful implementation of FSD technology could have significant financial implications for Tesla, as it could pave the way for driverless taxi services and expansion in the autonomous vehicle industry.
