Tesla has officially changed the name of its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) feature to Tesla Assisted Driving (TAD) in Europe, following discussions with the German Transport Ministry. The ministry reported that this change is aimed at addressing concerns over the previous name, which German Transport Minister Steffen Bilger deemed “somewhat misleading.”
Beginning Friday, Tesla updated its European sales website to reflect the new name, which was negotiated after talks with the ministry last month. Bilger stated that he would now support a speedy approval process for the feature at the European level, with a vote expected by the end of the year.
Tesla Assisted Driving Approval Status in Europe
Despite the name change, the functionality of the software remains unchanged. Tesla Assisted Driving includes features such as acceleration, braking, steering, and parking, but requires drivers to maintain constant vigilance and be prepared to take control as needed. The system has not yet been authorized for independent operation on public roads in Europe, with the Netherlands being the first country to grant Tesla provisional permission for its use this past spring.
In 2022, Australia and New Zealand approved similar functionality, and a variant was launched in China in May. In the United States, Tesla sells a Full Self-Driving (Supervised) subscription for $99 per month, but European pricing for Tesla Assisted Driving has not yet been disclosed.
The name change reflects ongoing concerns from regulatory authorities regarding the messaging of Tesla’s driver-assistance technologies. Tesla previously resisted modifications to the Full Self-Driving label, fighting it in court; however, in 2022, the California Department of Motor Vehicles determined that the terms “Full Self-Driving” and “Autopilot” were misleading under state law. This ruling prompted the company to cease using “Autopilot” and retain the “(Supervised)” designation with Full Self-Driving.
The software remains the subject of scrutiny in the United States. In March, federal authorities launched an investigation into Full Self-Driving after multiple incidents raised questions about its reliability in low-visibility situations. Tesla also recalled an older software version earlier this year due to compliance issues with traffic laws.
For current and prospective Tesla owners in Europe, the new name primarily affects marketing and sales communications. The absence of broad public road approval—aside from the Dutch exception—means that drivers should continue to treat the system as one requiring constant supervision. Tesla has not commented on the name change, and the timeframe for the EU’s approval vote remains unclear.
