The Roadster's limited FSD first reflects the trade-offs this supercar makes between design and functionality. Its impact on Tesla's autonomous driving revenue depends on how many models the limitation involves and how many owners' purchasing choices it will change. Current disclosures point to the Roadster itself, with no indication that the Model 3/Y will face the same limitation.

▎Why the Roadster's FSD Has to Be Limited

On October 16, MotorTrend published an interview with Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen. He confirmed that the new Roadster will feature a limited version of FSD, citing reasons including the windshield rake angle and the car's positioning that emphasizes driving it yourself.

Front windshield and nose of the new Roadster prototype | MotorTrend / Cavan Bennigson

Cameras are mounted on the nose, behind the windshield, and on the front fenders. Since the hardware is there, why can't full functionality be offered? The interview did not explain the specific engineering obstacles or list which features would be removed. Writing it off directly as "highway-only" or "no auto-parking" goes beyond the information that has been disclosed.

The trade-off that is clear: this car retains its distinctive styling and performance ambitions, while FSD functionality has been limited. For buyers, what's needed next is a feature list they can compare item by item.

▎Musk Already Reserved the Roadster for Drivers

This arrangement has some backstory. On the April 22 earnings call, Musk discussed the future product lineup and said that in the long term, the new Roadster will be Tesla's only model that retains manual driving. He predicted the Roadster would not significantly change the company's revenue.

Franz and the MotorTrend host interviewing around the prototype | MotorTrend / Cavan Bennigson

This shows that in Musk's planning, the Roadster already has a specific group of buyers: those willing to pay for the experience of driving it themselves. Daily commuters buying FSD, meanwhile, are paying to reduce their driving burden. Both types of demand can coexist.

But "likes to drive it themselves" can't answer all questions for the manufacturer either. Supercar buyers also deal with traffic jams, long trips, and parking; driving pleasure and assist features don't conflict. Which features are ultimately retained will still affect the car's appeal.

▎First Trading Day After Launch: Stock Rose Then Fell

After the launch on the evening of October 15 U.S. time, Tesla rose about 3% in premarket trading on the 16th, which was