Franz von Holzhausen (born May 10, 1968 in Simsbury, Connecticut) is an automobile designer, currently in charge of design at Tesla Motors after resigning his position at Mazda North American Operations on July 31, 2008.[1]
He designed the Tesla Model S, an electric premium sedan.[2]
After taking his role at Mazda on February 21, 2005, von Holzhausen designed the Mazda Kabura concept car which debuted at the 2006 North American International Auto Show and is tipped for production, possibly as a "MX-4". Prior to this, von Holzhausen designed the successful Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky while working at General Motors. He was also an assistant design chief at Volkswagen. Earlier in Franz's career at Volkswagen, he had an instrumental involvement in the New Beetle concept project, known as "Concept One," under design lead J Mays (Holzhausen saw the New Beetle concept through to production in Germany).