Summary
- Tesla’s Senior Design Executive Franz von Holzhausen was interviewed in the 500th episode of the Ride the Lightning podcast
- Von Holzhausen discusses what has kept him at Tesla for over 16 years, citing the company’s mission and exciting projects as motivators
- He mentions that Tesla’s mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy is a key factor in his long tenure
- Von Holzhausen talks about the importance of making great products and striving to continually improve
- The interview covers topics such as potential new Tesla releases, design decisions, and the impact of Tesla’s work on steering the future
Article
In the 500th episode of the Ride the Lightning podcast, Tesla’s Senior Design Executive Franz von Holzhausen was interviewed, discussing various topics such as the new Model Y Performance, design decisions, upcoming releases, and his reasons for staying at Tesla for over 16 years. Von Holzhausen attributes his longevity at the company to Tesla’s mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy. He explains that the potential for creating innovative products and steering the future in a positive direction is what keeps him motivated to continue working at Tesla.
Von Holzhausen reflects on his past experience working at companies like Mazda, General Motors (GM), and Volkswagen, where he was on a four-year rotation cycle before joining Tesla. He shares that working on exciting projects such as autonomous robotaxis, humanoid robots, and various vehicles has been a major factor in his decision to stay with the company. Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of Tesla’s original mission and the impact their products have had on pushing the world towards a more sustainable future.
The conversation delves into von Holzhausen’s self-critique process when he sees Tesla vehicles on the road, as he continuously aims to improve and develop the next innovative product. He stresses the importance of creating great products and how Tesla’s customer-centric approach is expected to win over customers, despite any fear, uncertainty, and doubt surrounding the company. The discussion also touches on von Holzhausen’s experience at Tesla compared to other longstanding employees and the rapid growth and impact the company has had in a relatively short period.
During the podcast interview, von Holzhausen also addresses speculation about Tesla’s Glacier Blue potentially coming to the U.S. and the potential discontinuation of Midnight Cherry Red, though he refrains from providing direct comments on these topics. The interview with von Holzhausen comes after Tesla’s Vice President of Vehicle Engineering, Lars Moravy, was interviewed by McCaffrey the week prior. The podcast appearance coincides with multiple appearances by both executives discussing the new Model Y, including confirming the launch of a Model Y Performance later in the year and a seven-seat configuration.
In a video from December, von Holzhausen shared insights into the design of the recently unveiled Cybercab, highlighting that the gold color is a nod to New York City’s iconic yellow taxi cabs. The conversation with von Holzhausen on Ride the Lightning podcast provides a glimpse into his dedication to Tesla’s mission, innovation in design, and commitment to creating impactful products that help shape a more sustainable future. The interview showcases von Holzhausen’s passion for his work and his belief in Tesla’s ability to influence positive change in the automotive industry and beyond.
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