Spain has introduced a comprehensive national framework for autonomous vehicle testing, providing Tesla with a clear regulatory path to conduct advanced testing on public roads. The new Automated Vehicle Testing Authorization Framework (ES-AV), formalizes how companies can test automated driving systems ranging from early prototypes to near-deployment technologies.
Last week, the Directorate General for Traffic (DGT) published updated details confirming that nationwide testing is now active under the ES-AV program, making Spain one of the first European countries to implement a structured, multi-phase authorization model for automated mobility.
Tesla Receives Nationwide Approval
According to the newly published transparency dashboard, Tesla holds authorization FVA-03/2025, covering 19 vehicles that can operate anywhere in Spain, on any national route, for a two-year testing window running until November 2027. This is one of the most expansive autonomous testing approvals in Europe to date.
Importantly, Spain has now progressed into Phase 3—Pre-deployment, the most mature level of the program. Under Phase 3:
- Testing is permitted in any operational design domain (ODD)
- More than 10 vehicles may operate simultaneously
- An on-board safety operator is optional
- A remote security operator is required, enabling fully driverless supervision
This means Tesla can perform no-driver, remotely monitored testing, similar to what regulators in the U.S. and China already allow in select jurisdictions.
Other Companies Approved, But Tesla Leads
Tesla is not alone in Spain’s new autonomous ecosystem. Wayve, the UK-based AI-driving startup backed by Microsoft and SoftBank, has authorization for three test vehicles, while Renault is running trials with two autonomous shuttles. All participating companies’ test status, permits, and basic operational data are publicly visible through the DGT’s transparency portal—something few countries currently offer.
Spain says openness is a core objective of the ES-AV framework, noting it is “committed to the transparency of test results as a means of encouraging the deployment of automated vehicles.”
Europe’s next big autonomous testing hub
Tesla’s approval in Spain comes after a series of coordinated efforts across Europe to expand testing and prepare Full Self-Driving (Supervised) for formal regulatory review and approval. Over the past year, the company has rolled out FSD programs in several EU countries, worked closely with national authorities, and aligned its system with the upcoming European-wide automated driving rules.
These steps are all building toward Tesla’s broader goal of securing approval, starting with the Netherlands, as soon as February 2026. Spain’s nationwide authorization—covering unrestricted routes, remote operation, and a sizable fleet of test vehicles—adds another substantial data source as Tesla readies its final submission.
Also bolstering its data collection efforts, the company has launched FSD ride-alongs for customers in Italy, France, and Germany, a first for Europe.
