Barely 24 hours after Flanders officially type-approved Tesla’s ‘Full Self-Driving (Supervised)’ system, Brussels-Capital Region is deciding whether to allow autonomous vehicles on its streets. Flemish Mobility Minister Annick De Ridder’s decree of 14 July 2026 applies nationally—Belgian road approval is federal—so in principle Tesla’s beta fleets could roll into the capital as early as next week. Brussels Mobility Minister Elke Van den Brandt told *The Brussels Times* on 15 July that the region supports automation “on evidence, not hype” and has joined a federal–regional task force drafting a two-phase legal framework: testing rules by end-2026 and full homologation by October 2028. Brussels is also pushing for a ‘regulatory sandbox’ that would bind operators to data-sharing and urban-traffic-reduction targets. For expatriates and corporate assignees considering car allowances, the move could reshape commuting patterns. Insurance underwriters say premiums may initially rise 15–20 % for vehicles operating under FSD, while employers will need updated fleet-safety policies. Ride-hailing platforms such as Bolt and Uber are lobbying to run Level-4 shuttles between EU-quarter hotels and Brussels Airport ahead of the 2027 Belgian Presidency of the Council. Critics, including consumer group Test-Achats, warn that Tesla’s system is still an advanced driver-assistance feature rather than true autonomy and could increase traffic if empty robo-taxis cruise for customers. The Federal Mobility Ministry is therefore preparing amendments to the Highway Code covering liability and cybersecurity. Stakeholders have until 30 August to comment on the draft rules.
Source: The Brussels Times
