Tesla embarks on supervised Full Self-Driving testing demonstration in the United Kingdom, following similar trials in Australia.
Tesla is currently testing its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology in the UK and plans to launch it for drivers later in 2025, subject to receiving regulatory approval. The company has demonstrated FSD capabilities on UK roads, including London's complex traffic situations, showcasing the system's ability to navigate under supervision.
The rollout of FSD supervised software will start on hardware 4 (HW4) in these markets, but the official rollout is pending regulatory approval, which has not yet been granted as of August 2025. The UK government is preparing regulations to allow driverless taxi services without a safety driver by as early as 2026, which could facilitate Tesla’s FSD use, including robotaxis, but a precise date for full regulatory approval for Tesla’s FSD remains pending.
In a recent development, Tesla shared a video of a right-hand-drive Model 3 undergoing supervised FSD testing in London, UK. The video, which is 2 minutes and 30 seconds long, depicts the Tesla FSD system autonomously driving through traffic, navigating busy streets, and passing multiple landmarks such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and Trafalgar Square.
This is not the first time FSD supervised has been tested in a right-hand-drive market. In May, Tesla released a video of its FSD being tested in Melbourne, Australia. Riz Akhtar, founder of carloop in Melbourne, noted the release of the latest video of FSD being tested around the streets of London.
Riz Akhtar, a mechanical engineer who spent the first 7 years of his career building transport infrastructure before starting carloop, specializes in Australian EV data, insight reports, and trends. He is based in Melbourne and drives a red Tesla Model 3.
Tesla's country director, Thom Drew, stated that there are no regulatory blockers for the FSD supervised software to be rolled out in right-hand-drive markets of Australia and New Zealand. However, no further details were provided on the progress of the rollout of FSD in the UK during Tesla’s Q2 earnings call.
The FSD supervised software rollout will occur in phases to more Tesla vehicles in these markets. The latest video of FSD being tested around the streets of London was released by Tesla earlier this month. The video from London was taken on an overcast summer day.
Riz Akhtar, who has a passion for cars, particularly EVs, and wants to help reduce transport emissions in Australia, expressed his excitement about the developments in FSD technology. He noted that these advancements could significantly impact the future of transportation, particularly in reducing emissions and promoting sustainable mobility solutions.
[1] Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) Technology Testing in the UK: https://www.tesla.com/news/tesla-full-self-driving-technology-testing-uk [2] UK Government Prepares Regulations for Driverless Taxis: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-government-prepares-regulations-for-driverless-taxis [3] Tesla's FSD Operating in the UK: https://www.tesla.com/support/autopilot/uk [4] SAE International's Autonomous Driving Levels: https://www.sae.org/standards/content/sae_j3016_201809/
- Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) Technology is being tested in the UK and plans to launch for drivers in 2025, pending regulatory approval.
- Riz Akhtar, a mechanical engineer and founder of carloop in Melbourne, Australia, has noted the testing of Tesla's FSD in London, UK, marking the system's operation in a right-hand-drive market outside of Australia.
- The UK government is preparing regulations that could permit driverless taxi services without a safety driver by 2026, which may facilitate the use of Tesla's FSD, including robotaxis.
- Tesla is currently testing its FSD on various roads and landmarks in London, UK, showcasing the system's potential to navigate complex traffic situations and promote sustainable mobility solutions in the automotive industry, particularly in the realm of electric vehicles and technology.
