New Tesla Roadster to Offer Limited FSD, About 2,000/Year From 2028

The new Tesla Roadster will not receive the full suite of Full Self-Driving (FSD) features. During MotorTrend’s walkthrough, the host highlighted the vehicle’s typical camera setup, including a front bumper lens, and asked chief designer Franz von Holzhausen if it would support FSD (via @CARN0N). “This will do a limited version of FSD,” von Holzhausen said, without detailing the specific omissions.

Why FSD Will Be Limited on the Roadster

Asked why, von Holzhausen cited “the extreme windshield and idea of just being a performance driving car.” He added that hardware is not the constraint: “the camera and hardware is there.” The Roadster’s steeply raked windshield, low wedge profile, transforming aero, suction fans, an active rear wing, and cold-gas thrusters make it unlike other vehicles in the lineup, introducing complexities FSD was not trained for.

Production volume is another factor. Early analyst estimates suggest Tesla will build only about 2,000 Roadsters per year once production starts in 2028. That’s below even the Cybertruck, currently the company’s lowest-volume consumer vehicle. Training FSD for a completely new, low-volume model is not practical.

A Driver’s Car First

The Roadster is not devoid of autonomy. Every stunt at the vehicle’s unveiling—driving upside down, hovering, and a kickflip over Tesla’s commercial lineup—was performed autonomously. According to Elon Musk, that was “to make sure we don’t kill anyone,” though Tesla did not specify the software used, and it likely was not FSD.

Musk has since stated that owners will be able to ask the Roadster to execute those showcased tricks on its own, adding that “it will be sentient.”

Tesla is positioning the model as “the last great driver’s car.” It features a steer-by-wire yoke, along with by-wire brakes and throttle, and Musk has said it will eventually be the only manually driven vehicle the company makes. While the new Roadster may ultimately be capable of driving itself, it is fundamentally intended to be driven by a human.

With production still a couple of years away, details on which FSD features will be included should become clearer closer to launch.