Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) Full Self-Driving (FSD) system exceeded legal speed limits in 55% of Brussels road segments tested by advocacy group Johanna.be. The findings emerge less than two weeks before a potential European Union vote that could determine the system's operational scope across Europe.

The July study evaluated 29 stretches of roads with 30 km/h limits. FSD surpassed the limit on 16 segments, averaging 44 km/h when speeding occurred. Additionally, the system displayed incorrect speed limits on approximately 90% of all tested segments, sometimes reverting from a recognized 30 km/h sign to a default 50 km/h display.

Regulatory split across Europe

Speeding compliance remains a primary point of contention among European regulators. Sweden has indicated it may oppose broader approval unless Tesla addresses these issues, while France has raised similar concerns. Conversely, the Czech Republic provisionally approved FSD this week after previously questioning speed-limit adherence. Belgium is among seven countries where Tesla currently offers FSD Supervised.

Tesla argues that FSD should adjust above detected limits to maintain pace with surrounding traffic rather than impeding flow. The company’s European data indicates FSD stayed at or below the median speed of traffic in 98% of 680 higher-speed samples where maximum speed settings exceeded detected limits.

EU vote and rollout implications

Dutch regulator RDW provisionally approved FSD in April following an 18-month testing period, enabling initial rollouts while broader authorization is considered. A decisive vote could occur as early as October 6. Approval requires support from at least 15 of the EU’s 27 member states, representing 65% of the population. If rejected, the Dutch provisional approval would be revoked six months later, potentially ending national approvals dependent on it.

RDW stated its testing confirmed FSD Supervised met safety requirements, with drivers retaining responsibility. In contrast, the Belgian study utilized a single Model 3 and a smaller test scope. Traders remain skeptical of other autonomy milestones; Polymarket odds place a 16% probability on Tesla selling a Cybercab for under $30,000 by year-end.

What the numbers show

The divergence between regulatory scrutiny and corporate safety claims is stark. While Tesla cites a 98% compliance rate with median traffic speeds in higher-speed zones, the Brussels data reveals a 55% failure rate against strict urban limits and a 90% error rate in speed limit recognition. This suggests that while FSD may perform adequately in flowing traffic, it struggles significantly with static signage interpretation in low-speed urban environments, a critical dependency for safe autonomous operation in dense European cities.

Tesla's market share in the European Union rose to 1.9% in the first eight months of 2026, up from 1.2% in the same period last year. This expansion was driven by a 65.9% surge in new car registrations, which reached 142,165 units between January and August.

The growth momentum continued into the final month of the reported period, with August registrations alone climbing 52.7% compared to the previous year. The data highlights a significant acceleration in adoption rates for the electric vehicle manufacturer across key European markets.

Registration trends

The following table summarises the key metrics disclosed for Tesla's performance in the EU market:

What the numbers show

The divergence between the overall market share gain and the volume growth indicates that Tesla is outpacing the broader EU automotive sector. While total registrations rose by 65.9%, the market share increased by 0.7 percentage points. This suggests that the total addressable market for new cars in the EU grew at a slower rate than Tesla's specific sales volume, allowing the company to capture a larger slice of the pie despite potential headwinds in the wider industry.