Tesla’s recent publication of European Full Self-Driving (FSD) safety data has raised eyebrows, particularly regarding its transparency. Ahead of a critical EU-wide approval vote expected on 6 October, Tesla asserts that its driver-assist system is 4.1 times less likely to result in a collision than manual driving, based on data from 100 million kilometers driven in five European countries.
However, the data supporting this claim has significant limitations. The measurement windows in the document close in 2025, which is well before the time period relevant to the 4.1 times statistic. The most current information in the entire document dates back to December 2025, with no data for 2026 available. Additionally, there are discrepancies within the document itself regarding the mileage recorded across different countries, creating further confusion.
The FSD sample size appears minimal compared to the 8.91 billion miles logged by manually-driven Teslas during the same period, raising questions about the adequacy of the data for a thorough assessment of FSD’s capabilities. Also notable is the inconsistency in the reported safety multiples—there’s been a decline from 5.2 times safer to 4.1 times safer, despite increased mileage.
Tesla’s own methodology acknowledges limitations in its comparisons, failing to consider critical factors such as traffic density and weather conditions, which could impact the findings. The claims made about FSD saving lives lack sufficient backing from the data provided in the filing.
Concerns are compounded by Tesla’s continued refusal to disclose its full safety case to regulators, citing business secrecy, a position echoed by various European countries that have also withheld FSD data. This practice highlights a gap between the data Tesla presents and the expectations for transparency from regulators and safety researchers.
Publishing an outdated dashboard to support safety claims for a rollout that only began in April 2026 does not meet the transparency standards stakeholders seek, limiting access to the timely and verifiable performance data essential for regulatory assessments.
