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, United States
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| Education | Syracuse University (1986–1988), ArtCenter College of Design (1988–1992, BS in Transportation Design) |
| Occupation | Chief Designer, Tesla Inc. |
| Spouse(s) | Vicki von Holzhausen |
| Children | 2 |
Franz von Holzhausen (born May 10, 1968) is a famous American car designer. Since 2008, he has been the main designer at Tesla, Inc.. He helped create the look of many well-known Tesla cars, like the Tesla Model S, Model X, Model 3, Model Y, Semi truck, and the unique Cybertruck. He also designed the second-generation Tesla Roadster (second generation). Before joining Tesla, he worked as a designer for other big car companies such as Mazda, General Motors, and Volkswagen.
Contents
Designing Cars
Early Career at Volkswagen
Franz von Holzhausen began his career in 1992 at Volkswagen. There, he helped design a special car idea called "Concept One." This idea later became the popular New Beetle. He worked on this project with another famous designer, J Mays.
Moving to General Motors
In 2000, he joined General Motors. As a design manager, he worked on exciting cars like the Saturn Sky and the Pontiac Solstice.
Leading Design at Mazda
Later, in 2005, Franz became the chief designer at Mazda. He led the design of two cool concept cars. A concept car is a special car made to show new ideas and designs.
- The Mazda Kabura concept car was shown in 2006.
- The Mazda Furai concept car was shown in 2008.
Both cars were unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Designing for Tesla
In 2008, Franz von Holzhausen joined Tesla. He became the head of design and has shaped the look of almost all Tesla vehicles.
- He designed the sleek Tesla Model S and the family-friendly Model X.
- He also created the popular Model 3 and the versatile Model Y.
- For bigger vehicles, he designed the Semi truck and the futuristic Cybertruck.
- He also worked on the super-fast second-generation Tesla Roadster (second generation).
During a special event to show off the Cybertruck, there was a small accident. The windows were supposed to be super strong, but they cracked when hit with a metal ball. This moment made Franz von Holzhausen even more well-known to the public.
About His Life
Franz von Holzhausen was born in Simsbury, Connecticut. His father was also a designer who owned a company called Group 4 Design. Franz got his first look into the world of design by interning at his father's company. This experience led him to study at the ArtCenter College of Design, where he earned his degree.
Franz is married to Vicki von Holzhausen. They met when they were both car designers at General Motors. Today, Vicki is the founder and CEO of her own company, von Holzhausen. Her company creates new and sustainable materials for the fashion and car industries.
See also
In Spanish: Franz von Holzhausen para niños
