Tesla Plans to Open-Source Model S and Model X, But May Release Only Limited Files—Following Roadster Precedent

Tesla plans to "open-source" its discontinued Model S and Model X vehicles, using the approach taken with the original Roadster as a template. Production of the Model S and Model X ended in April 2026, with their manufacturing lines repurposed for Optimus robot production. Back in November 2023, Elon Musk claimed that all design and engineering documentation for the first-generation Roadster had been fully open-sourced. However, the publicly available materials have been extremely limited: the GitHub repository teslamotors/roadster contains only five CAN database files, one diagnostic software ISO image, two PDF quick-start guides, plus a README and a .gitattributes file—totaling just eight files, with no updates in the past two and a half years. Additional materials, such as those related to the battery monitoring board and four other items, are accessible only after logging into Tesla’s service portal. The open-source initiative lacks critical vehicle engineering information, including CAD files, mechanical drawings, and bills of materials. When engineering firm Antmicro attempted to reconstruct the Roadster’s electronics, it received only Gerber manufacturing output files for the PCBs. Moreover, the README file in the GitHub repository serves solely as a disclaimer—it provides no open-source license. Tesla retains all copyrights and grants no rights to copy, modify, or distribute the materials, falling short of standard open-source definitions. Notably, the Model S and Model X run on Linux-based operating systems. Tesla previously faced controversy in 2018 for failing to comply with the GNU General Public License (GPL). If this new open-sourcing effort includes the release of kernel and Buildroot source code, it could represent a meaningful step forward.