Tesla has launched a phase in its push for advanced driver assistance technology in Europe by launching public demonstrations of its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system in Spain. Trials started on January 26, and curious participants can book ride-along sessions in select Tesla stores across 6 key cities, which offer a firsthand look at the software in real-world traffic conditions, albeit under the watchful eye of a real person in the driver’s seat.

These trails are a big step for Tesla and all self-drive vehicle manufacturers in a market where regulatory caution has only tentatively allowed the rollout of autonomous features compared to the United States or China. While not yet in commercial deployment, the demos build on previous testing approvals and hint at progress toward a potential broader European launch.

What the demonstrations entail

Participants join as passengers in Tesla vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving (Supervised), accompanied by a member of Tesla staff who provide explanations and are there just in case. The sessions exhibit the system’s ability to handle demanding everyday scenarios, including urban streets, crossroads, roundabouts, lane changes, motorway entries/exits, and automated parking.

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Tesla says that the technology currently requires active driver supervision at all times; the driver remains legally responsible and must be ready to intervene. It is positioned as an advanced assistance tool, not fully autonomous driving yet.

Bookings are available via Tesla’s official website, with sessions running until April 30, 2026.

Cities and locations involved

The demonstrations are taking place in five major Spanish cities:

Madrid: Locations in Alcobendas and Fuenlabrada.
Barcelona: Centred at the Metalurgia area.
Valencia: Dedicated sessions in select stores.
Sevilla: Public ride-alongs available.
Malaga: Part of the nationwide rollout.

The urban centres chosen for trials provide diverse traffic environments, from bustling historic districts to modern thoroughfares, allowing Tesla to demonstrate adaptability to Spanish road conditions.

Timeline and broader European context

The programme runs from January 26 to April 30, 2026, in line with Tesla’s continuing push to gather real-world data and build public familiarity.

Spain’s Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) authorised road testing with 19 FSD-equipped vehicles in late 2025, focusing on data collection and adaptation to European traffic norms. This follows similar demonstrations in countries like France, Italy, and Germany.

Elon Musk, speaking at Davos in January, expressed optimism about getting approvals for supervised FSD in Europe “in the coming days” or next month, highlighting the Netherlands’ RDW authority as the decider. A positive decision there could enable recognition across other EU states ahead of full European community-wide permission.

Tesla hopes for a commercial rollout of FSD (Supervised) in Europe early in 2026, pending regulatory green lights.

Safety claims and system capabilities

Tesla talks of global usage data, with over 11 billion kilometres driven with FSD (supervised) activated worldwide. The company claims the system can reduce serious collision risks by up to seven times under active supervision, though these figures come with caveats and are based on internal metrics.

In its current form, FSD (Supervised) navigates routes to destinations, manages city and motorway driving, handles turns and manoeuvres, and controls steering, acceleration, and braking.

For now, Spain offers Europeans a real glimpse into the future of assisted driving. Reservations remain open for those eager to experience it firsthand.