France blocks Tesla's autonomous driving system - which Regev is examining
France has announced it will not permit the use of Tesla's semi-autonomous FSD system on its roads. This move makes France the first EU country to oppose the technology, citing significant safety concerns.
France has announced that it will not allow the use of Tesla's semi-autonomous FSD driving system on roads at this stage. The system is capable of performing overtakes, navigating in heavy traffic, and stopping at red traffic lights, but it is not without problems: in recent years, cases of traffic accidents have been documented in which Tesla cars were allegedly involved while the system was in use.
As recalled, Minister of Transport Miri Regev announced last year that the possibility of implementing the system in Israel was being examined, following a petition by Tesla owners. However, it seems the expectations were premature. France's announcement makes it the first country in the European Union to oppose the implementation of FSD. Originally, the Netherlands announced that FSD systems would be permitted for use on its territory, which theoretically made the system marketable in all European Union countries. But the French opposition has "put a spoke in the wheels" for Tesla.
According to Philippe Tarraud, the French Minister of Transport:
"We believe that while this system holds a number of technological advantages, the price to be paid in safety is not sufficient to justify the approval of the system in its current configuration."
Elon Musk responded to Tarraud's words, announcing that "delaying the system in France will cause the loss of human lives." However, an investigation recently published by Reuters claimed that Tesla actually presented falsified data to the authorities in the Netherlands, according to which FSD systems reduce traffic accidents and save lives, while in practice they do not have the impact that Tesla attributes to them in terms of preventing accidents.
