Differences from the North American version
Tesla has officially launched its highly anticipated FSD ride-along program in parts of Europe, giving the public their first chance to experience the technology on local roads.
Although the underlying neural network is still FSD v14, early feedback from participants in Germany, France, and Italy shows that Tesla has tuned the experience to meet stricter European regulations—resulting in some noticeable differences compared to the North American build.
A More “European” Driving Style
Participants rode in Model 3 and Model Y vehicles driven by Tesla staff, running FSD version 14.1.7. While not the newest build (North America currently has v14.2.1), it is still a recent v14 variant.
This version includes several UI changes and behavior limitations, highlighting the regulatory hurdles Tesla must clear to gain approval from entities such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The car may “think” like its U.S. counterpart, but its driving behavior shows a distinctly European level of politeness.
Driver State Display Updated to “Hands-Ready Mode”
One of the most visible differences is how FSD describes the driver’s role.
In North America, when FSD is engaged and the cabin camera is monitoring driver attention, the UI shows: “FSD (Supervised) hands-off mode on.”
In Europe, however, the display reads: “FSD (Supervised) Hands-Ready Mode.”
This wording shift is almost certainly to comply with upcoming UNECE DCAS (Driver Control Assistance Systems) regulations. These rules define a category of systems that may allow hands-off operation only when the driver is actively monitored and able to take control immediately.
Tesla describes the mode as “immediately available,” aligning with the requirement for continuous steering torque readiness and instant driver intervention.
Speed Modes Removed; Users Set a Maximum Speed
Most FSD users in North America are familiar with selectable speed profiles—Chill, Normal, Assertive, Fast, and Mad Max—which allow the system to automatically adjust speed, lane change behavior, and driving style.
In Europe, these options are gone. Instead, drivers can only set a maximum speed, similar to FSD v13.
One Italian participant noted that Tesla staff configured the max speed to +10 km/h over the limit, allowing the car to drive 70 km/h in a 60 km/h zone—functionally the same as the older “relative speed offset” behavior.
Behavior-Announcement Prompts Return
Another returning UI element (from FSD v11) is the on-screen announcement of upcoming maneuvers.
A few seconds before performing a significant action, the screen displays messages such as: “Initiating left turn maneuver.”
This fulfills additional UNECE DCAS requirements mandating that the system notify the driver before initiating autonomous actions. It also helps first-time FSD riders better understand what the car is doing without human input.
FSD Messaging Fully Localized
Interestingly, Tesla has now localized all core FSD messages—including disengagement notices—into multiple European languages. While release notes have been translated before, this is the first time we’ve seen full in-car FSD messaging localized.
With certification progress accelerating, Tesla appears closer than ever to securing approval in Europe. The earliest tentative date is February, meaning FSD (Supervised) could be available in select European regions within just a few months.
