Musk: Next March Tesla will release major Autopilot improvements to vehicles outside the U.S

According to Musk on Twitter, Tesla aims to release major Autopilot (auto-assisted driving) improvements to vehicles outside the United States around March 2022. Given Europe's commitment to improving road safety in the coming years through a series of regulations requiring vehicle safety systems to be installed in vehicles, the timing of Tesla's release of Autopilot improvements seems opportunistic.

According to Whole Mars on Twitter, many Tesla Autopilot users in Europe complain that "the speed limit is incorrect and the correct speed is not reached before passing the brand". Musk responded on Twitter that Tesla's self-driving team aims to make significant improvements for owners outside the U.S. around March, based on regulatory approvals.

Some EU regulators are developing mandatory vehicle safety system requirements for all cars sold and registered in EU member states. In 2019, the countries of the European Union reached an agreement on the General Safety Regulation, a new vehicle safety law, detailing the requirements for various mandatory vehicle systems.

In January 2020, Regulation (EU) No 2019/2144 came into force, stipulating that vehicles must introduce a series of new technologies and safety measures. The Regulation will become mandatory in all EU member states by 6 July 2022. The Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport (BMVI) has set a detailed timetable for the implementation of the regulation, as shown in the chart below.

Next year, driver drowsiness and attention warning systems, intelligent speed assist systems, advanced emergency braking systems and emergency lane keeping assist systems will be mandatory. Then by 2024, every vehicle sold in the EU will have to be equipped with the above technology.

Tesla Autopilot seems well suited to the EU's new auto safety regulations. The regulation also provides simpler, more direct guidance for Tesla to obtain regulatory approvals in parts of Europe, particularly in EU countries.