Tesla registers 1,819 vehicles in the Netherlands in March and advances in FSD approval

In March, Tesla registered 1,819 vehicles in the Netherlands, more than the sum of the first two months of the year, according to BOVAG data. The reading indicates an increase of 18.4% compared to the same month in 2025, when 1,536 units were recorded.

The end-of-quarter pattern appears once again: March, June, September, and December usually record the highest volumes.

The reason lies in Tesla's global strategy to increase deliveries at the end of the quarter, combined with the specific logistics of the Model 3, produced in Shanghai and shipped in batches to Europe, unlike the Model Y, which is manufactured at GigaBerlin.

In the 1st quarter, the 2,662 units represent a decline compared to the 3,446 registered in the first three months of 2025.

Public policies have impacted the EV market. The tax exemption for zero-emission cars was replaced by a 30% discount in January 2026, falling to 25% in 2029 and ending in 2030.

Tesla maintained its lead among BEVs, surpassing Kia, which led in January and February.

In the last quarter, 24,869 electric vehicles were sold in the Netherlands, representing a 30.5% market share. Hybrids hold 58.4%, while ICE-powered vehicles total 10.8%.

Lineup and quarterly performance

Among them, the Model Y was the best-seller among BEVs with 1,619 registrations; the Model 3 was at 1,002, just below the Kia EV3 SUV.

In 2025, Tesla launched Standard versions of the Model 3 and Model Y in Europe and the US, with entry prices of €36,990 for the Model 3 and €39,990 for the Model Y. Throughout the 1st quarter, the company offered a €5,000 trade-in bonus for cash purchases of either model, valid until March 31.

Despite displaying the Model X and Model S on the Dutch website, Tesla has removed the online configurator for these two models and intends to stop taking orders at the end of the quarter. The assembly lines will be used to produce the upcoming Optimus humanoid robot.

Sales of 19 Model S and 22 Model X occurred in the Netherlands between January and March.

In mid-March, Tesla reported it had completed the testing phase of the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software with the Dutch authority RDW, paving the way for broader approval in Europe in the summer. The company also stated that the RDW communicated an expected approval date for the Netherlands of 10/4, changing the previous timeline of 3/20. Musk commented on the date in a post on X.

Previously, the RDW stated that there was no approval yet and that the parties had only scheduled a meeting in February to demonstrate if the system meets the standards.

FSD in Europe

Tesla has been testing FSD in Europe, with videos of autonomous driving in cities such as Paris, Berlin, Rome, and Amsterdam, among others.

The company has accumulated 1.6 million kilometers of FSD (Supervised) testing in Europe, according to a recent statement. In November, it had reported having driven over 1 million kilometers on EU roads, with over 13,000 customer rides.

Tests with customer rides were extended until March 31 due to strong interest. Tesla stated that after approval in the Netherlands, other European countries could recognize this national approval, with expectations for EU approval later in the summer.

What do you think about the path to FSD approval in the Netherlands? Do you believe this could accelerate European adoption? Leave your opinion in the comments below.