Summary
- Former Tesla executive warns of delay to regulations in Europe affecting Full Self-Driving (FSD) launch
- UN Taskforce Secretary created new UN Regulation 171, known as DCAS
- Decision made to delay certain DCAS regulations, impacting FSD launch in Europe
- Potential for Tesla to gain temporary certification or deployment through pre-certification for FSD launch
- Tesla’s launch of FSD Supervised in China progressing smoothly, with testing and tentative approval in place
Article
A former Tesla executive, Marc Van Impe, recently announced his departure from the company on LinkedIn and expressed concerns about delays to regulations in Europe that could impact the launch of Full Self-Driving (FSD) in the region. Van Impe, who also served as a Secretary of the United Nations task force responsible for creating the new UN Regulation 171 (DCAS), highlighted the potential delay of certain elements of the regulation until 2028, which could hinder Tesla’s plans to launch FSD in Europe and the UK. He emphasized that this delay could also impact Europe’s competitiveness in the rapidly evolving ADAS market.
Elon Musk had previously stated during Tesla’s Q2 earnings call that he expected to gain approval for FSD Supervised in Europe and China by the end of 2024. However, the setback in European regulations could prove to be a significant blow to Tesla’s FSD plans. Van Impe suggested that Tesla may explore temporary certification or deployment through pre-certification as potential options to avoid delaying the FSD launch in Europe. He stressed the importance of evolving the type-approval framework to better address innovative technologies and ensure faster deployment of advanced ADAS systems.
Van Impe reflected on his work over the past four years to accelerate the deployment of new ADAS technologies globally, particularly through his involvement in the development of UN Regulation 171. He highlighted the recent amendment adopted by UN GRVA that would make more capabilities, such as system-initiated maneuvers, possible. However, he expressed disappointment over the decision to delay certain capabilities for urban environments, emphasizing the need for a more agile regulatory framework to support technological innovation in the automotive industry.
In his post announcing his departure from Tesla, Van Impe also acknowledged two former colleagues from the company’s public policy ranks, referring to them as “dear mentors” who had been instrumental in his professional growth. He expressed gratitude for their patience and guidance during his time at Tesla. While European regulations may pose challenges for FSD deployment, Tesla’s launch of FSD in China appears to be progressing smoothly, with the company announcing plans to offer FSD transfers on new purchases through the end of the year and conducting tests of FSD Supervised-equipped vehicles in the country.
Overall, the potential delays to European ADAS regulations highlighted by the former Tesla executive underscore the complex regulatory landscape facing companies developing advanced driver assistance systems. The evolving nature of technology in the automotive industry necessitates responsive and forward-thinking regulations to support innovation and ensure the safe and efficient deployment of autonomous driving technologies. Despite challenges in regulatory approval, Tesla continues to push forward with its FSD plans, leveraging its global presence and partnerships to navigate the complex regulatory environment and bring advanced ADAS capabilities to markets around the world.
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