The Ministry of Economics has prepared a proposal to recognize the preliminary European approval of the Tesla FSD (Supervised) system in Latvia, which was issued by the Dutch Vehicle Certification Authority (RDW) in April of this year. If the Cabinet of Ministers supports the initiative, the Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD) will have to complete the review of Tesla's application within ten working days and, in the absence of grounds for refusal, make a decision to recognize this approval in Latvia. The ministry emphasizes that this is not about a fully autonomous vehicle. "The European-approved version of FSD (Supervised) is a driver assistance system, not a fully autonomous vehicle. The driver is required to constantly monitor the road situation and be ready to take control at any moment." This means that using the system does not exempt the driver from responsibility. Using a phone, being distracted from the road, or engaging in other activities while driving is still prohibited. In fact, Latvia will not independently certify the new technology but will be able to rely on the verification already conducted in the Netherlands. As noted by the Ministry of Economics, the RDW evaluated the system for more than 18 months, analyzed Tesla's data collection and processing methods, and continues to monitor its operation after granting approval. "Latvia's decision should not be based on hypothetical assumptions about the safety of the technology," the ministry's information message states. At the same time, the CSDD will still need to verify the documents and ensure that the system meets the requirements in force in Latvia. According to the ministry, the European version of Tesla FSD is already approved in the Netherlands, Lithuania, Estonia, Denmark, and Belgium. Separate recognition of the RDW approval is required for each new country until the European Commission adopts a pan-European decision. The document also reveals the history of Tesla's application. The company submitted a request for recognition of the system in Latvia on April 13, after which the Ministry of Transport and the CSDD requested additional materials, including information about the system's operation in winter conditions. According to Tesla, all necessary documents were submitted, but by the end of July, no official decision had been made. The Ministry of Economics points out that cooperation with Tesla is not limited to just the driver assistance system. The company is already involved in energy infrastructure projects in Latvia and began direct commercial activities in the Latvian market in 2026. According to the ministry, recognizing the European approval will help maintain Latvia's reputation as a country open to innovative technologies and investments.
