Tesla (TSLA) has received approval to start testing its supervised self‑driving software on public roads in Belgium’s Flanders region. The approval covers just one test car, which can begin driving once it gets a license plate and insurance. Following the news, TSLA stock jumped 3% on Wednesday.
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The move comes after the Netherlands recently gave a temporary green light for Tesla’s supervised full self‑driving system, making it the first European Union country to do so. Belgium’s approval matters because once Flanders signs off, the test is allowed nationwide.
Belgium Test Could Speed Up Europe‑Wide Approval
Officials say the car will drive about 5,000 kilometers to see how the system handles Belgian roads, traffic rules, and local infrastructure compared with the Netherlands. If the results look good, it could help speed up work toward provisional Europe-wide approval.
Flanders’ transport minister, Annick De Ridder, has pushed for a fast but careful review, saying the region wants to support innovation while keeping safety first. The test will still require a human driver to stay alert and ready to take over, since the system is not fully autonomous.
The approval comes as European regulators continue to debate how safe and ready supervised self‑driving systems really are. Nordic countries have raised concerns about speeding, icy‑road performance, and driver distraction.
Still, Belgium’s decision gives Tesla more momentum in Europe, especially as more countries consider following the Netherlands’ lead.
Is TSLA a Stock to Buy?
Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Hold consensus rating on TSLA stock based on 12 Buys, 12 Holds, and five Sells assigned in the past three months. Further, the average Tesla price target of $403.86 per share implies 9.21% downside risk.
