Why Britain Won't Allow Tesla's Self-Driving Car Software

The feature Tesla keeps promising and never delivers is already banned

Tesla is banking on automation and newer markets like China to help fuel growth. Its Full Self-Driving features, long promised and never delivered stateside, are now all but banned in Britain. The Department for Transport (DfT) has disallowed most of Tesla’s driver-assist features, which allow the driver to remain hands-off as the vehicle performs normal driving duties.

The original plans drafted by Tesla for approval of the DfT call for vehicles to become almost fully autonomous, but now its plans have become so watered down that its autonomous features are no different than what you’ll find on many vehicles from an array of other automakers.

What happened in Britain?

The Telegraph has seen documents showing DfT officials raising concerns over Tesla’s automation features, mostly due to their safety. Tesla’s original plans note that vehicles with Full Self-Driving features would be able to make lane changes, stop and start at traffic lights and make turns—all without the driver needing to have their hands on the wheel.

The plans have been changed to allow simple maneuvers like lane changes, but only on highways and when drivers have their hands on the wheel. Officials proposed restrictions to Tesla’s platform in September 2024, noting, “Introducing system-initiated maneuvers is a significant step which entails a degree of unknown. Whilst [a driver assistance system] may help in reducing collisions, it may also introduce new safety risks.”

In January, officials from Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the UK requested more evidence on the safety of driver assistance features. While saying the features are “promising,” the nations raised concerns over how assisted driving or full automation would affect driver behavior and situational awareness.

Like in the U.S., many Tesla owners in Britain have already been charged

Full Self-Driving is a feature Tesla has been selling for years. Many Tesla owners plopped down thousands of dollars with the expectation Tesla’s Full Self-Driving platform would arrive soon, which it hasn't. In Britain, Tesla charges 6,800 pounds for Full Self-Driving. In the U.S., Full Self-Driving costs $8,000. The same officials who raised concerns about the safety of assisted driving also want Tesla to introduce driver assistance features “in phases.”

Final thoughts

Noting that 88 percent of accidents in the UK involve “human error,” a DfT spokesperson notes, “advanced driver assistant technology could play a crucial role in reducing accidents and saving lives.” Tesla has never been able to prove its Full Self-Driving platform is safe or that it can - or should - be trusted more than a human driver, despite trying to launch it without approval several times. The challenge for the UK now is trying to resolve how Tesla will launch its self-driving features while also prioritizing safety at the same time.