--- title: "Tesla Finally Forced to Rename Full Self-Driving as ‘Assisted Driving’—in Europe" date: "2026-10-12" modified: "2026-10-12" authors: - name: "Jerry Perez" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez.md" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/tesla-finally-forced-to-rename-full-self-driving-as-assisted-driving-in-europe" categories: - "Car Tech" - "Electric Vehicles" - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Tesla News" tags: - "Tesla" --- # Tesla Finally Forced to Rename Full Self-Driving as ‘Assisted Driving’—in Europe ![11 May 2026, Rhineland-Palatinate, Gerolstein: A self-driving Tesla Model Y is driving autonomously on the roads of the Eifel. A factory driver sitting at the wheel intervenes as required in the "Full Self-Driving" (FSD/Supervised) software update, which is not yet approved nationwide. Photo: Harald Tittel/dpa (Photo by Harald Tittel/picture alliance via Getty Images)]() *\Picture Alliance via Getty\* Germany’s transportation ministry successfully put enough pressure on Tesla to have its deceptive "Full Self Driving" hands-free driving system renamed to just "Assisted Driving." Per *[CNBC]()*, the German regulators called the original branding "somewhat misleading," adding that “It is not a system that takes over the entire driving task. Rather, it is a driver assistance system that can support certain driving tasks such as accelerating, braking, and steering. The driver must remain attentive at all times.” As *[Futurism]()* highlighted, this is basically an admission on Tesla's part that it's misled customers for as long as it's offered the service. This isn't news to anyone who's [followed the FSD saga]() for years, but U.S. officials haven't forced the American automaker to change its branding, despite many active lawsuits alleging FSD often violates traffic laws and has led to several fatal incidents. It's currently sold Stateside under the "Full Self Driving (Supervised)" name. In a statement to *CNBC*, Missy Cummings, an engineering professor at George Mason University, said the renaming convention is not enough and that it "ignores both past and ongoing NHTSA investigations." This comes as Elon Musk and Tesla are running smear campaigns on European social media, claiming E.U. regulators, especially in the Netherlands, are delaying approval of its systems. *Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter. ### Author social links [Instagram]()