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Tesla changes driver assistance system name in Europe after German criticism
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Tesla changes driver assistance system name in Europe after German criticism

Tesla has changed the name of its advanced driver assistance system in Europe in response to criticism from the German Ministry of Transport. The technology, previously called Full Self-Driving (Supervised), is now known as Tesla Assisted Driving (Tesla assisted driving).

This change aims to prevent misunderstandings about the software's functionalities and may help the company increase the availability of this feature on the European continent. The German Minister of Transport, Steffen Bilger, stated in early October that the previous nomenclature could lead consumers astray, given that the system does not perform all driving functions autonomously.

According to an official ministry statement, Tesla itself proposed the change after discussions with the German government last month. With this new designation, Bilger plans to support the approval of Tesla Assisted Driving in other European nations before a potential vote across the entire European Union, which might occur this year.

The company's CEO, Elon Musk, expressed gratitude to the minister via the social network X this week. He has been seeking permission for the feature's use in the region for several years.

In March 2026, the Netherlands became the first European country to approve Full Self-Driving (Supervised). On Wednesday (7), Reuters published an article indicating that Tesla's campaign for European approval used questionable safety surveys and studies with deficiencies. The agency also reported that the Dutch vehicle safety authority, RDW, faced intense pressure from both the company and its online supporters.

Despite the software's progress, it is crucial that the driver maintains attention on the road and is ready to take control when necessary. The technology is capable of performing maneuvers to enter and exit parking spaces, as well as navigating urban and highway roads.

However, Full Self-Driving is under investigation in the United States and is involved in civil lawsuits related to accidents where it was used. The Autopilot system, which has less complexity, has also been linked to dozens of fatalities. Tesla suspended this feature at the beginning of this year after a judge concluded that the company had adopted misleading marketing tactics regarding its capabilities.

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German military expresses concern over threat of Russian satellite activity to Starlink network
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German military expresses concern over threat of Russian satellite activity to Starlink network

The movement of Russian military satellites near Western equipment providing intelligence to Ukraine has raised concerns about a potential threat to the Starlink network, operated by SpaceX under Elon Musk's leadership. This was warned by General Michael Traut, commander of Germany's Space Forces, in an interview with Reuters published this Friday (9).

In May 2026, four Russian military satellites, identified as Cosmos 2610, 2611, 2612, and 2613, approached a commercial radar imaging satellite. According to US Space Forces, the Russian equipment performed maneuvers near the apparatus belonging to the Finnish company ICEYE.

ICEYE confirmed to Reuters that one of its satellites was involved in this incident. ICEYE provides data to the United States and allied countries, including information used for battlefield intelligence in Ukraine.

Assessment of Threats from Russia

General Traut characterized the movement of the Russian satellites as a form of shadowing of the Finnish company's equipment. In the general's view, such activity demonstrates capabilities that could affect larger commercial constellations like Starlink, even without a direct attack.

Traut told Reuters: "Russia is demonstrating methods that, if applied directly against a mega-constellation like Starlink, could affect its service life and quality for all users, not just for Ukraine." He added: "This worries me greatly."

According to Western military sources polled by Reuters, Russia's interference in Western space systems has significantly increased since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. Documented actions include electronic jamming conducted from land, as well as tracking satellites in orbit to gather information and demonstrate capabilities.

Russia has not disclosed the capabilities of the Cosmos satellites involved in the incident. The Ministry of Defence did not respond to Reuters' questions regarding the movement of this equipment. Moscow has repeatedly stated that commercial Western satellites assisting Ukraine could become legitimate targets for retaliatory measures. Meanwhile, the Russian government denies conducting sabotage operations in NATO countries.

Response Measures by Germany and ICEYE

In light of this situation, Germany is developing inspection satellites and assessing orbital technologies capable of disrupting hostile space activities without destroying the involved equipment. These initiatives are part of the country's plan to expand its military space capabilities.

The German armed forces have also signed a contract with ICEYE and a German company to build dozens of satellites, with a particular focus on supporting the eastern flank of NATO. ICEYE itself took steps after the May incident. According to its CEO Rafal Modzewski, the company repositioned the involved satellite, after which new movements by Russian craft occurred. For him, this case shows how space equipment can approach each other both for observation and for potential damage.

SpaceX, the operator of Starlink, did not respond to Reuters' request for comment.

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