Vauxhall to Make Splash in Geneva

Tesla hires away Mazda's chief designer

 
7 1,481 views August 4, 2008

Tesla hires away Mazda's chief designer

Tesla hires away Mazda's chief designer

Enlarge Photo
The man at the head of Mazda's design studios in Irvine, CA, Franz von Holzhausen, has left the company to lead Tesla's design unit. His first two challenges will include the 'Model S' sedan and an affordable sport compact EV, but after more than three years as the lead designer for Mazda's highly regarded concept and production vehicles, he's reportedly looking forward to the greater flexibility the smaller company will offer.

Tesla's leadership has been looking for a lead designer for its next two vehicles, wanting to give the company's more prolifically produced cars a unique look. That requires in-house design - the Roadster was designed by Lotus - and von Holzhausen was reportedly the company's first choice. He resigned from Mazda on Thursday of last week according to a report by Car Design News, and is already tasked with setting up a complete design team.

The location of the new Tesla design center hasn't been established, but von Holzhausen wants it to be in the Los Angeles area to draw on the large pool of design talent. Tesla is expected to set up a whole new facility to house its newly founded design unit.

For background on the cars that von Holzhausen will be tasked with crafting appearances for, check out or previous stories.



Posted in:
 
Contribute
Send us a tip Comment Contact the editor
Follow Us

 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

  • Posting indicates you have read this site's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Comments (7)

  1. By james Posted: 8/4/2008 6:12pm PDT

    sounds good to me, mazdas are very beautiful cars in my opinion (especially the rx8). i'm fairly sure this guy could really direct some quality designs for tesla
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  2. By Gus Posted: 8/4/2008 7:33pm PDT

    Yeah, an electric RX8 wouldn't be a bad thing at all...
    Makes you wonder why Mazda didn't think of it...
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  3. By Gus Posted: 8/4/2008 7:34pm PDT

    By the way, it's funny that BMW's designer is an American (Bangle-Bungle) and the designer for a Japanese company sounds about a German as bratwurst...
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  4. By Sorin Posted: 8/5/2008 4:42am PDT

    I bet it's a great designer, but....
    "Money talks, mmm-hmm-hmm, money talks
    Dirty cash I want you, dirty cash I need you, woh-oh
    Money talks, money talks
    Dirty cash I want you, dirty cash I need you, woh-oh" :)
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  5. By Boris Posted: 8/5/2008 4:18pm PDT

    This acquiring will not bring Tesla anything in substance.

    The Tesla cars are 100% of the shelf products (body, gear, finish and underhood 100% fitted at Lotus England, batteries imported from Thailand) screwed together in a backdoor garage in the US.

    To set up a new model with all the molds and tools (I know what I'm talikng about as I'm in that business) will widely surpass even the deep pocket of Mr. Musk (pretty rich by drawing a lucky ticket only and got into Tesla by pure chance - otherwise success-less as Dubya) the current occupier of tesla motors.
    Everything besides his google adventure got bust as soon as he touched.
    After he has ousted the founder tesly inc. the hard way.
    A unhappy and rude king Midas of modern times. - a epigone of the, as we here say:
    "ugly american"
    (sorry dont take that personally I love the USA in general and hope for Obama setting the things straight)

    The move to highjack / bribe a otherwise reknown designer is nothing more then dressing up the company for sale or IPO to the applauding laymen.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  6. By Boris Posted: 8/5/2008 4:59pm PDT

    to make my point clear - the setup for the carbon fiber and fibre glass body parts ONLY, of a Tesla is no easy matter. Not speaking of the many other parts for which tools have to be custom build before even thinking of assembling a own car is a logistic and technical task of enormous proportions.

    Only a fitting wind(side)screen or hardtop can be a unbelievable taunting task.
    In form, material, how to handle (ship) and logic (assembly / service)

    No company even less nobody as individual person not real seasoned and experienced in that very industry and very deep pockets can hope to manage.

    A designer can draw whatever he likes - this means nothing if one does not have the technicians to work it trough from ground up - and Tesla as it stands (and the success to get some cars actually on the street is indeed remarkable) are lacking that all the way.

    What they have accomplished so far is a huge marketing success, mainly assisted by luck being at the right time at around and disguise & sell a 99% foreign-importet-pre-finished good as american invention / product.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  7. ma_mburleigh8 avatar mburleigh8 Posted: 11/20/2008 9:08pm PST

    Cool, i hope tesla does good.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

Research New Cars

Go!


More from High Gear Media

 
 
MotorAuthority
  • Follow Us
  • Twiiter
  • Facebook
 
 
© 2011 MotorAuthority. All Rights Reserved. MotorAuthority is published by High Gear Media. Stock photography by Homestar, LLC. Send us feedback.
 

Use the form below to send us a tip, give us feedback, or just say hello.

(max 750 characters)