Franz von Holzhausen was born on May 10, 1968, in Simsbury, Connecticut. He later pursued a career in automotive design, becoming one of the most influential vehicle designers in the modern electric vehicle industry.
Von Holzhausen began his professional journey in 1992 at Volkswagen. Under the leadership of prominent designer J Mays, he contributed to the development of notable concept vehicles including the Volkswagen Microbus and the New Beetle, also known as the 'Concept One.' These early projects highlighted his flair for combining innovative design with mass-market appeal.
After nearly a decade at Volkswagen, von Holzhausen joined General Motors in 2000 as a design manager. While at GM, he worked on several high-profile projects, including the Saturn Sky and the Pontiac Solstice—two vehicles known for their sporty and distinctive styling.
In 2005, he transitioned to Mazda as chief of design for its North American operations. There, he led the development of the Mazda Kabura concept, which debuted at the 2006 North American International Auto Show. He also oversaw the creation of the Mazda Furai concept, unveiled in 2008, further cementing his reputation for forward-thinking, performance-oriented design.
In 2008, Franz von Holzhausen joined Tesla as the head of design. His move marked a significant turn both in his career and in Tesla’s design philosophy. At the time, Tesla had outsourced much of the early design and engineering of its original Roadster to Lotus. Von Holzhausen quickly brought the creative work in-house, beginning with the Tesla Model S sedan, which introduced a refined aesthetic that has since become synonymous with the Tesla brand.
Under von Holzhausen’s design leadership, Tesla developed its complete lineup of electric vehicles. He is credited with designing the Tesla Model S, Model 3, Model X, and Model Y, as well as the second-generation Tesla Roadster and the Tesla Cybertruck. Each model reflects his distinctive interpretation of modern electric vehicle design—sleek, minimalist, and performance-focused.
With the launch of the affordable $35,000 Model 3 in 2017, von Holzhausen helped broaden Tesla’s appeal to a mainstream market while maintaining the company’s design ethos. Simultaneously, he has worked on high-performance vehicles like the new Roadster, which aims to become the fastest production vehicle in the world with a projected 0 to 60 mph time of 1.9 seconds. These efforts underscore his ability to balance mass-market functionality with cutting-edge innovation.
| Birth Date: | 10 May, 1968 |
| Age: | 54 yrs |
| Occupations: | Engineer Designer Car designer Businessperson |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Simsbury |
| residence: | Montería |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American vehicle designer |
