Tesla FSD subscriptions hit record high as European approvals boost demand

Tesla’s latest quarterly shareholder update revealed that adoption of Full Self-Driving (FSD) is at its highest levels ever. Without outright purchases no longer available, Tesla says they are seeing record subscription levels in North America.

At the same time, the company says its recent approvals in Europe are boosting demands for its vehicles in the region.

Record FSD subscription levels

According to Tesla, FSD adoption continued to accelerate during the second quarter, with the company recording its highest-ever number of new subscriptions.

Tesla said more than 55% of new vehicle deliveries in North America included an FSD subscription, marking a new record attach rate for the software. With that high adoption rate in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, Tesla says there are now 1.48 million active FSD subscriptions worldwide, an 56% increase from the same time last year, and a 16% increase from the previous quarter.

Likely contributing to the higher adoption rate is Tesla’s shift away from offering FSD as an outright purchase. Instead, customers subscribe for a monthly fee, and Tesla now presents the option directly on the vehicle ordering page, making it a more visible part of the buying process.

FSD approvals in Europe boosting demand

Perhaps the most interesting takeaway from Tesla’s update was what its recent string of FSD approvals in Europe appear to be doing for vehicle sales.

Tesla first received approval to deploy FSD in the Netherlands in April. That approval set off a domino effect, with four other countries quickly following suit, including Lithuania, Estonia, Denmark, and Belgium.

Those approvals have not only been welcomed by owners who had previously purchased FSD and had been waiting years for the software to arrive, but also to customers interested in purchasing a vehicle. “We are seeing elevated interest in our vehicles in markets with FSD approval,” the company said.

While European sales are trending much higher than last year, Tesla did not provide sales figures to quantify that increase. However, it does suggest FSD availability is becoming a meaningful purchasing factor in markets where the software is approved.

While FSD has expanded in Europe, it has all been smooth sailing. As we told you earlier today, France’s Minister of Transportation said the country is continuing technical discussions with Tesla and other European regulators, but believes the current version of FSD can’t be approved due to speeding and insufficeint driver monitoring.