Tesla is backing away from the Full Self-Driving name in Europe to improve its chances of regulatory approval and to distance itself from a label critics call dangerously misleading. On its European sites the company now labels the system "Tesla Assisted Driving" while the US site continues to use "Full Self-Driving (Supervised)" for the same technology.
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Regulators, safety advocates and some customers have long objected to Tesla's driver-assistance branding because they say the FSD name suggests fully autonomous driving even though drivers must remain alert and ready to take control. Elon Musk, Tesla's chief executive officer, has faced criticism for making what some call overly aggressive claims about vehicle capabilities. Last year the California Department of Motor Vehicles threatened to suspend Tesla's sales over what it called misleading marketing, then rescinded that threat after Tesla took corrective action that included phasing out the Autopilot branding and clarifying when FSD requires driver supervision.
Tesla is actively seeking approval to deploy the system across Europe and is continuing efforts to gain clearance in other countries after the Netherlands approved a more limited version in April. FSD generates meaningful revenue for Tesla's automotive division and access typically costs $99 a month. FSD is central to Elon Musk's aim to recast Tesla as a technology company working on autonomous vehicles and robotics, and the branding change is part of the company's push to expand where the system can be used. That matters for your portfolio because the label shift and the pace of European approvals could affect how broadly Tesla can sell and monetize this option.
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