Franz von Holzhausen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Franz von Holzhausen
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von Holzhausen in 2008
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| Born | May 10, 1968 Simsbury, Connecticut, U.S.
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| Occupation | Chief Designer, Tesla Inc. |
| Spouse(s) | Vicki von Holzhausen |
| Children | 2 |
Franz von Holzhausen is a famous American car designer. He was born on May 10, 1968. Since 2008, he has been the main designer at Tesla, Inc.. He has helped create many cool cars and trucks for Tesla. These include popular models like the Tesla Model S, Tesla Model X, Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model Y, and even the unique Tesla Cybertruck. Before joining Tesla, he also designed cars for other big companies like Volkswagen, General Motors, and Mazda.
Contents
Designing Awesome Cars
Early Career at Volkswagen
Franz von Holzhausen started his career in car design in 1992 at Volkswagen. He worked on a special project called "Concept One." This idea later became the well-known Volkswagen New Beetle, a car famous for its round, friendly shape.
Moving to General Motors
In 2000, Franz joined General Motors. There, he became a design manager. He helped design cars like the Saturn Sky and the Pontiac Solstice. These cars were known for their sporty looks.
Leading Design at Mazda
Later, in 2005, von Holzhausen became the design director at Mazda. He led the creation of several exciting concept cars. Concept cars are special models that show new ideas for future cars. Two of his notable designs were the Mazda Kabura, which was shown in 2006, and the Mazda Furai, revealed in 2008.
Becoming Tesla's Chief Designer
In 2008, Franz von Holzhausen joined Tesla, Inc. as their chief designer. This was a big step in his career. He has been in charge of designing almost all of Tesla's main vehicles.
Tesla Model S and X
He led the design of the Tesla Model S, which was Tesla's first widely popular electric sedan. After that, he also designed the Tesla Model X, an electric SUV with unique "falcon wing" doors.
Tesla Model 3 and Y
He continued to shape Tesla's look with the Tesla Model 3, a more affordable electric car, and the Tesla Model Y, a compact SUV. These models helped make electric cars more common.
Tesla Semi and Cybertruck
Franz also designed the Tesla Semi, an electric truck, and the very futuristic Tesla Cybertruck. The Cybertruck's unusual design made a lot of news when it was first shown in 2019. He also worked on the second version of the Roadster, a super-fast electric sports car.
About His Life
Franz von Holzhausen was born in Simsbury, Connecticut. His father was also a designer, which might have inspired Franz. He first went to Syracuse University in 1986. Then, in 1988, he moved to the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California. He studied transportation design there and earned his degree in 1992.
Franz is married to Vicki von Holzhausen. She used to design cars too. Now, she runs her own company called von Holzhausen. Her company focuses on making products using materials that are good for the environment.
More Information
See also
In Spanish: Franz von Holzhausen para niños
