Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla's design chief, has redefined electric vehicles through innovative designs from the Model S to the Cybertruck. Recruited by Elon Musk in 2008, he built Tesla's visual identity from scratch. His career spans legacy automakers like Volkswagen, GM, and Mazda, blending nostalgia, athleticism, and futuristic aesthetics.
Born in Simsbury, Connecticut, to an industrial designer father, Franz von Holzhausen was immersed in design from a young age. He graduated from the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California, in 1992, launching a career in the automotive industry.
His early work at Volkswagen included the 'Concept One' project, which evolved into the iconic New Beetle, blending retro nostalgia with modern elements. In 2000, he joined General Motors as a design manager, creating the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky roadsters, praised for their athletic proportions and beautiful surfacing.
From 2005 to 2008, as Director of Design at Mazda North America, von Holzhausen developed the Nagare, or 'Flow,' design language. This influenced concept vehicles like the Kabura and Furai, earning accolades at auto shows and establishing him as a visionary.
In 2008, von Holzhausen left the legacy auto industry to join Tesla Motors, a struggling startup with limited resources. Recruited personally by Elon Musk, he built an entire design studio and brand identity from a blank slate, aiming to prove electric vehicles could be desirable without compromises.
His first major project, the Model S, featured clean, powerful lines, muscular haunches, and no traditional grille. Unveiled to acclaim, it included a massive central touchscreen that minimized physical buttons, influencing Tesla's minimalist interiors. The Model S made EVs appealing to luxury buyers, supported by the expanding Supercharger Network.
Subsequent designs included the falcon-wing door Model X, and mass-market Model 3 and Model Y, which retained premium aesthetics while being more affordable. The Model Y became the world's best-selling vehicle multiple years running.
The Cybertruck shattered conventions with its stainless steel exoskeleton, resulting in flat planes and sharp angles that evoke science fiction. Polarizing yet memorable, it applied a first-principles approach. Von Holzhausen's work extends to the Tesla Semi and next-generation Roadster, forming a timeline of futuristic statements.