More Great News for Tesla Investors in Europe
As previously discussed, full self-driving (FSD) approvals in Europe and global FSD adoption are among the four major catalysts for Tesla stock in 2026. Consequently, the latest news that Estonia’s regulator has approved FSD Supervised is a major positive. Here’s what it means for investors.
Do the Netherlands, Lithuania, and Estonia matter for Tesla's FSD growth?
The answer is yes and no. It’s a no in the sense that the Netherlands population is just 18 million (4% of the EU), Lithuania’s is just 2.9 million (0.6%), and Estonia’s is just 1.4 million (0.3%). Simply put, FSD adoption from these three countries won’t move the financial needle for Tesla.
However, it’s highly significant for two reasons. First, the initial approval in the Netherlands comes from a strict regulator in a relatively more advanced EU country. It also comes from a country famous for having a high density of bicycles in its city centers as well as complex driving conditions. In other words, approval from the Netherlands matters and gives other countries confidence in following suit.
Broader adoption building?
The second major plus is that, just like Lithuania, Estonia decided to follow the route under Article 39 of EU Regulation 2018/858. This article allows an EU member to grant approval based on the EU-type approval granted by another approval authority (the Netherlands), rather than waiting for an EU-wide vote using a form of qualified majority voting.
An EU-wide vote could approve FSD Supervised across the EU in one broad stroke, but it requires 55% of EU members to vote for it, and they must represent 65% of the EU population. This won’t be easy, and it definitely won’t be easy if Germany (about 18.5% of the EU population) and/or France (15.2%) say no, or rather nein and no.
Next Steps for Tesla
Hopefully, the trickle of approvals and growth of FSD data in Europe (in itself a proof point of FSD) will turn into a stream of larger countries approving FSD. Thinking longer term, FSD Supervised is obviously the starting point of a process that could lead to robotaxis in Europe. Here’s hoping.
More Great News for Tesla Investors in Europe
As previously discussed, full self-driving (FSD) approvals in Europe and global FSD adoption are among the four major catalysts for Tesla stock in 2026. Consequently, the latest news that Estonia’s regulator has approved FSD Supervised is a major positive. Here’s what it means for investors.
Do the Netherlands, Lithuania, and Estonia matter for Tesla's FSD growth?
The answer is yes and no. It’s a no in the sense that the Netherlands population is just 18 million (4% of the EU), Lithuania’s is just 2.9 million (0.6%), and Estonia’s is just 1.4 million (0.3%). Simply put, FSD adoption from these three countries won’t move the financial needle for Tesla.
However, it’s highly significant for two reasons. First, the initial approval in the Netherlands comes from a strict regulator in a relatively more advanced EU country. It also comes from a country famous for having a high density of bicycles in its city centers as well as complex driving conditions. In other words, approval from the Netherlands matters and gives other countries confidence in following suit.
Broader adoption building?
The second major plus is that, just like Lithuania, Estonia decided to follow the route under Article 39 of EU Regulation 2018/858. This article allows an EU member to grant approval based on the EU-type approval granted by another approval authority (the Netherlands), rather than waiting for an EU-wide vote using a form of qualified majority voting.
An EU-wide vote could approve FSD Supervised across the EU in one broad stroke, but it requires 55% of EU members to vote for it, and they must represent 65% of the EU population. This won’t be easy, and it definitely won’t be easy if Germany (about 18.5% of the EU population) and/or France (15.2%) say no, or rather nein and no.
Next Steps for Tesla
Hopefully, the trickle of approvals and growth of FSD data in Europe (in itself a proof point of FSD) will turn into a stream of larger countries approving FSD. Thinking longer term, FSD Supervised is obviously the starting point of a process that could lead to robotaxis in Europe. Here’s hoping.