Tesla's Full Self Driving (FSD) in the UK?

In our first edition of Tesla Torque in Spring 2026, we covered the current situation of Tesla's Full Self Driving Supervised (FSD) in the UK and it was a timely article due to the following approvals for the latest V14 FSD to be permitted for public use in Netherlands in April 2026, followed by Lithuania, Estonia and then Belgium in May and June 2026.

British Tesla drivers are getting frustrated at the lack of progress regarding the approval of FSD in the UK, particularly those that paid for the feature several years ago, and Tesla Owners UK wrote to the government about their plans for FSD Supervised. See the link below for our letter to the Secretary of State.

The government's response came from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Simon Lightwood MP but sadly didn't offer much more information or any timescale. We shared this response with Tesla UK and if we receive a formal response we will share this with TOUK members.

ON THE FSD HORIZON

FSD is advancing globally, but UK Tesla owners are still waiting as regulation and tech continue to evolve, reports Warren Whyte in the Spring 2026 edition of Tesla Torque

Whenever a group of Tesla is not long before the conversation veers towards Full Self-Driving (FSD) – and when it will arrive in the UK. Interest surged after its launch in Australia in September 2025, demonstrating the system can work in right-hand drive scenarios. US owners have enjoyed the very latest Version 14 of the FSD (supervised) software for some time, and the rest of us can only look on with envy at Tesla’s ongoing refinement of software. Tesla continues to invest heavily in the hardware that powers FSD. It designs its AI chips in-house, claiming that no off-the-shelf processor can match their performance for autonomous driving tasks. In November 2025, it confirmed it is already working on the next-generation AI5 chip, which could be up to ‘50 times more performant than the current AI4 (previously known as HW4). Tesla says mass production could begin as early as 2027 – and interestingly the chip is not intended just for vehicles but also for robotics, training systems and data centres.

SIGNS OF PROGRESS

Tesla Owners UK is well aware that many early FSD adopters are still waiting for full functionality to be enabled. In our regular liaison meetings with Tesla, we continue to stress that the UK needs this long- awaited capability. Some delays are understandable, given slow approvals from the UK government and EU, as well as the lethargic progress made by UNECE, the UN body responsible for international vehicle regulations and standards. Even so, we question whether the UK is missing an opportunity, particularly with Waymo preparing to test its self-driving taxis in London in early 2026. Tesla has already hinted that UK testing may not be far away. In July 2025, it teased short videos on X showing a Model 3 using FSD on public roads in London – and even successfully navigating Swindon’s ‘Magic Roundabout’, one of the UK’s most complex junctions.

 WHAT ABOUT EXISTING OWNERS?

 Last year, we successfully campaigned for owners to transfer their FSD entitlement to new cars, and we continue to work with Tesla to keep this option available indefinitely. Clarity is still needed for older HW3 cars; rumours of an ‘FSD Lite’ package for vehicles without the newer AI4 computer and cameras are encouraging, but we await more details, particularly whether long-standing FSD buyers will receive the full suite of capabilities they originally paid for. A potential HW4 retrofit to HW3 owners could solve this, though Tesla hasn’t offered it yet, though Elon did refer to such a possibility in a recent earnings call. Such an upgrade would be complex, requiring new cameras, a front bumper camera and the updated computer. Many owners of the older FSD-equipped HW2 or HW2.5 car (typically Model S and X) have already moved to HW3 through Tesla’s upgrade scheme. If your vehicle includes FSD, it’s worth checking that this upgrade has been completed.

 POISED FOR A NEW CHAPTER

Across Europe, Tesla has begun showcasing FSD capabilities through Ride Along events, and we hope to see similar demonstrations in the UK before long, giving local drivers a tangible glimpse of the future. Tesla Owners UK will work closely with Tesla to ensure our members have the opportunity to experience the technology first-hand. We are on the cusp of an exciting new chapter for Tesla technology in the UK – not before time, some might say.