China Enforces Mandatory Standards for Autonomous Vehicles, Holding Automakers Accountable for Accidents
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system is facing obstacles in China after the Chinese government released the *Mandatory National Standards for Intelligent Connected Vehicle Autonomous Driving Systems* on August 12, set to take effect on July 1, 2027. The standards stipulate that automakers will bear legal responsibility for accidents occurring while L3 (conditional autonomous driving) or L4 (high-level autonomous driving) systems are engaged. Additionally, the system must alert drivers to take control at least 10 seconds before a potential accident.
Currently, Tesla’s FSD in the United States operates at the L2+ level, requiring drivers to remain attentive and ready to intervene. While China’s new regulations do not yet apply to L2+ systems, Tesla would need to comply if it upgrades to higher autonomy levels. Analysts note that China’s strict data regulations, particularly the prohibition on transferring domestic data overseas, pose a significant barrier to Tesla’s autonomous driving development in the country. Tesla has hired testers in China to conduct FSD trials, but challenges such as data localization requirements, national security considerations, and technical validation processes complicate its autonomous driving strategy in China.
The new standards apply not only to Tesla but also set a high threshold for all international automakers developing autonomous driving technology in China. Industry observers suggest that China’s increasingly stringent oversight of autonomous driving may influence global strategies for the sector.
EU to Vote in October on Approving FSD Across Member States; France Rejects System Over Safety Concerns
The European Union is scheduled to vote on October 6 on whether to approve Tesla’s FSD for use across its 27 member states. However, the French government has already stated it will not approve the system, citing concerns over potential speeding and insufficient technology to ensure drivers remain attentive. French regulators argue that FSD’s driver attention monitoring technology is not mature enough to effectively prevent distraction or loss of control.
The Dutch vehicle authority (RDW) has approved FSD for use in some European countries but refuses to disclose safety review details, citing “trade secrets.” According to email records, Tesla has been lobbying the Dutch regulator since 2024 to ensure permanent confidentiality of all safety review documents, refusing to proceed with the review process until confidentiality was guaranteed. Tesla representatives emphasized in emails that certain documents “must never” be made public and demanded assurances from regulators on how they would prevent public access.
Beyond the Netherlands, regulators in Germany, Norway, and Denmark have also declined to release FSD safety review data. Critics argue that the safety of autonomous driving systems should be subject to public scrutiny rather than decided through private agreements between companies and regulators. This has sparked broader discussions about regulatory transparency, with concerns that the lack of public review details could undermine trust in autonomous driving technology.
Global Regulatory Differences Highlight Challenges in Autonomous Driving Expansion
Tesla’s FSD in the United States remains at the L2+ level, which requires driver supervision at all times. While some users praise the system’s performance—with a few even claiming to rely entirely on FSD for long-distance travel—Tesla’s path to deploying autonomous driving technology in China and Europe is far more complex.
China’s data localization requirements and Europe’s transparency disputes underscore the regulatory disparities autonomous driving technology faces in global markets. China’s mandatory standards place clear liability on automakers for autonomous system safety, while European regulators have struck confidentiality agreements with Tesla over safety reviews. These differences not only impact Tesla’s global strategy but also present new challenges for the future of autonomous driving technology.
Industry analysts note that the regulatory framework for autonomous driving is still evolving rapidly, with governments yet to reach consensus on safety standards, data management, and liability. Tesla’s experiences in China and Europe reflect the legal and regulatory hurdles autonomous driving technology must overcome for global expansion.
