Elon Musk: FSD Approval in Europe and China Expected in February

Speaking at a Davos session on January 23, 2026, Elon Musk made a bold prediction: European and Chinese regulators are expected to approve Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system "next month." This statement came amidst discussions on robotics progress, where Musk confirmed Optimus robots' readiness for commercial pilots.

FSD approval in China would be a critical growth driver for Tesla, allowing it to compete with local players like Baidu and XPeng on their turf. However, experts recall that "Musk time" often differs from calendar time, and European regulators are known for their conservatism regarding AI safety on roads.

Source: Reuters / Davos 2026