Belgium has approved the use of Tesla Motors' (TSLA.US) supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, representing another step forward in the electric vehicle manufacturer's European expansion strategy.
The approval was signed by Flemish Mobility Minister Annick De Ridder, following the completion of a series of tests by the company in Belgium.
De Ridder shared a photo of the signed official document on the social media platform X, stating, "I have just signed the approval."
The approval process in Belgium was accelerated in recent weeks under De Ridder's leadership, resulting in the official authorization arriving earlier than anticipated.
The authorization granted in one of Belgium's three regions is valid across the entire country.
This decision makes Belgium the fifth European Union member state to approve Tesla's supervised FSD system, following the Netherlands, Lithuania, Estonia, and Denmark, which granted its approval on Tuesday.
According to analysis from automotive media, the Belgian approval is significant and strongly indicates that other European countries are likely to grant their approvals in rapid succession.
The overall pace of approvals across various regions is seen as a positive signal.
The next major milestone for FSD certification in Europe is expected to be approvals from countries such as the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Spain, or Germany.
Should that occur, the real-world performance of the FSD system in major European cities like London, Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, Rome, and Berlin will be closely watched.
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