Drivers in South Korea can now access Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) feature, marking a significant step in the automaker’s global rollout of its autonomous driving technology. South Korean Tesla owners began reporting the arrival of version 14.1.4, a recent iteration but not the very latest found in other regions. As Tesla continues to unlock new territories, local regulatory and technical challenges determine the pace of future releases. Many South Korean drivers have shown curiosity about the capabilities and limitations of FSD, while industry analysts closely monitor how quickly public trust in these systems grows.
Tesla’s recent expansion into South Korea mirrors earlier launches in Australia and New Zealand, but the company historically varied its rollout approach depending on local regulations and customer feedback. Previous reports highlighted delays, with some markets waiting months for new versions or feature parity with the United States. Compared to initial North American and Chinese pilots, where regulatory approval was more streamlined, European regions have presented a more complex landscape. The commitment to internal testing across many countries shows a shift toward deeper collaboration with local authorities, as seen in current European efforts.
What Does the Rollout in South Korea Include?
The latest deployment grants South Korean users access to Tesla Full Self-Driving under supervision, broadening the software’s reach to its seventh country. The feature functions via a subscription or one-time purchase and brings a set of advanced, but not fully autonomous, features such as lane changes and navigation on autopilot. Tesla selected software version 14.1.4 for South Korea, which, while recent, still trails updates available elsewhere. This staged deployment allows localized feedback and adaptation.
Why Is Europe Posing Specific Challenges?
Tesla faces complex regulatory hurdles before it can offer Full Self-Driving in Europe. The main barrier lies in adhering to distinct European legal requirements and securing exemptions for new, less regulated vehicle behaviors. The company has conducted over 1 million kilometers of internal tests across 17 European countries to demonstrate safety and reliability. Tesla’s leadership acknowledged this challenge, stating,
“Our path to European rollout is by partnering with the Dutch approval authority RDW to gain exemption for the feature.”
Such regulations include compliance with UN-R-171 DCAS and applying for exemptions under EU Article 39.
What’s Next for Tesla’s Self-Driving Ambitions?
Tesla’s next strategic focus is to address European regulatory requirements and secure the necessary approvals to launch Full Self-Driving more widely on the continent. The ongoing partnership with RDW in the Netherlands could serve as a template for entering other European markets. “We hope to have FSD available in Europe sometime early next year,” Tesla stated.
“This involves proving compliance with existing regulations and filing an exemption for yet-to-be-regulated behaviors.”
Meanwhile, Tesla continues to work with state authorities in the U.S. as it pursues broader deployment of its Robotaxi service.
Tesla’s expansion of Full Self-Driving to South Korea signifies a methodical but incremental strategy in introducing its advanced driver assistance technology to various markets. Direct engagement with regulatory bodies has allowed the company to test and refine its product in diverse environments, each with distinct legal expectations. Customers should note that Tesla’s Full Self-Driving is currently supervised and does not replace the need for attentive driving. For potential users, reviewing current version capabilities, local legislation, and the differences in feature availability between regions is essential. As the European launch approaches, monitoring legal developments and industry feedback will help users and investors gauge how soon and broadly Tesla’s autonomous features will become accessible.
