![]() ![]() Franz von Holzhausen is not a festival trumpeter who gives his opinion on every topic. However, at the Tesla presentations, which are reminiscent of the Apple events, he is celebrated just as euphorically as the company founder. Unlike Elon Musk, the bathroom in the crowd is not an elixir of life for Holzhausen. In the end it didn’t matter whether it had a diesel-electric motor,” says the designer. The fact that the whole project had to be completed in less than a year didn’t make things any easier. If the design of the Model S had not been received, it would have been the end for Tesla. As rustic as the environment was, the pressure was immense. ![]() For him, the uncomfortable workplace was something like a blank sheet of paper. In this way, von Holzhausen was able to develop his vision of automobile design from scratch. One or the other would have turned on their heels at the sight of these shirt-sleeved working conditions. ![]() At Mazda, he gave shape to the RX-8, Mazda3 and Mazda5.Īt Tesla, the designer was not expecting a chic, light-flooded studio, but a corner in the Space X factory, where Elon Musk’s space fantasies were to become reality. The Pontiac was named Car of the Year in the USA in 2006 and also received the “Design of the Year 2006” award. At General Motors, von Holzhausen was responsible for the appearance of cars such as the Chevrolet SS, the Pontiac Solstice and its brother the Opel GT. At the US branch of the German automobile manufacturer, he worked on some groundbreaking prototypes such as the Microbus or the Concept One, which would later become the New Beetle. After completing college at the renowned Syracuse University, where he graduated in transportation design, he immediately joined VW. “Many advised me not to take this job,” remembers Franz von Holzhausen.Īfter all, the US designer had already made a name for himself in the automotive industry with German ancestors. Most of the American designer’s colleagues wondered what had happened to Franz, that he was trading a secure job and probably a good career in the automotive industry for the electric castles in the air of an eccentric South African. At a time when established carmakers were still laughing when they were asked about Elon Musk’s plans. He politely said goodbye to Mazda and signed on to Tesla. That was entirely to the designer’s taste. What does one mean? A whole range of models. Musk convinced von Holzhausen of his idea of building an electric car. The charismatic billionaire came in at the right time. Holzhausen did not feel that Mazda was valued enough by his employer at the time, especially his views on sustainability and the environment did not arouse the enthusiasm that Holzhausen wanted from the Japanese car manufacturer. The courageous, soon-to-be-car maker and the designer started talking and the South African talked about his grandiose project. The RO Studios from New Jersey had designed the logo and Elon Musk met Franz von Holzhausen at one of his visitors. The fact that the symbol shows a DC motor, but Tesla uses AC drives, is just a minor bon mot. At least that’s how Elon Musk explained it. Because that does not stand for the name Tesla, but shows the shape of the electric drive. The story of the eccentric billionaire and the rather quiet designer is closely interwoven with the Tesla logo. But with the triangular-edged Cybertruck and the new Roadster, von Holzhausen is embarking on a new path of shapes. With the Model S, he set an example and established the Tesla design language, which was also followed by the Crossover Model X and Model Y as well as the Model 3. With von Holzhausen, this obviously consists of constantly reinventing yourself. Most of the time the creative minds feel constricted at some point, want to realize themselves anew and are looking for a new challenge. A period of time that is quite unusual even for a designer. News/mutiger-visionaer_30628704-30628730.html?query=%24%5B%3F%28%40.subType%3D%3D%22gallery%22%29%5D&template=teaser-image-gallery">īut the liaison between Musk and von Holzhausen has lasted for almost a decade and a half. ![]()
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