Steffen Bilger said he is advocating prompt EU approval of Tesla's supervised Full Self-Driving system after talks on technical and liability issues. An expected October vote has been delayed to at least December.
Tesla chief executive Elon Musk welcomed German backing on Wednesday for the company's driver-assistance software as the automaker seeks European Union approval, Reuters reported from Berlin. Musk wrote "Danke schoen" on X after Transport Minister Steffen Bilger said he would push for approval of the system marketed as Full Self-Driving.
Bilger said in a statement on Tuesday that he is advocating prompt EU approval after discussing technical details and liability with Tesla last month. Reuters said Germany agreed with Tesla that the system may exceed the speed limit by up to 10 percent. Bilger said Tesla has offered to rename the system Tesla Assisted Driving.
Germany joins the Netherlands and Belgium among countries supporting the technology. Sweden and France have raised concerns about the system exceeding speed limits, Reuters reported. An EU vote expected in October has been pushed back to at least December while some countries run further tests.
Traffic-safety researchers have warned that the system's safety claims are inflated, the Reuters account said. The dispatch did not publish a new crash statistic or a formal EU decision.
Wednesday's development is a national endorsement and a delayed vote, not an approval.
People Sentiments Mixed
- Musk replied "Danke schoen" to the German transport minister's support.
- Reuters said traffic-safety researchers have warned that the system's safety claims are inflated.