How Tesla Designs Cars to Look so Good

Table Of Content

• Tesla reveals latest Model Y electric SUV
• Foreshadowing a fraught manufacturing process
• Lego mocks Tesla with "guaranteed shatterproof" brick model of Cybertruck
• Was it design thinking that did wonders for Tesla?
• How much will the more affordable car cost?
• Tesla recalls Cybertrucks after reports of faulty pedals causing unwanted acceleration
• Web Designer Salary in India in 2024

To a one, they're impressive, but von Holzhausen is at another level. And regardless, Tesla had to start selling a more versatile lineup of vehicles. While a snazzy two-seater was fun to drive and thrilling to look at — more so when you realized you were running only on electrons — people wanted to buy sedans and SUVs. The company had to first create an exciting electric car that would change the impressions that EVs were glorified golf carts. That car would be sold at a high price to early adopters and fans of high-performance, exotic sports cars.

Tesla reveals latest Model Y electric SUV

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The new 8-inch screen includes access to adjustable climate controls, music, or even entertainment apps like Netflix, YouTube, and Disney Plus. As Tesla continues to move forward, he'll be even more admired for his unique ideas not just about what cars should look like, but how they should make our lives better. With efficiency, von Holzhausen had a concept that could inform not just the design of the Model S sedan but also the entire, evolving Tesla brand. I recently got the chance to speak with von Holzhausen and he shared some details about how he came to join Tesla and what guides his design philosophy.

Foreshadowing a fraught manufacturing process

For von Holzhausen, going to work at Tesla's earliest design studio in Hawthorne, CA, at SpaceX headquarters, that meant about two years to come up with a new vehicle — a rare opportunity to pen a "clean sheet" design. Tesla had initially hoped that the new affordable model would be able to compete with Chinese rivals by making its Model 2 cost $25,000. According to Reuters, Tesla’s engineering chief Lars Moravy said the company would avoid the risk of investing in a “revolutionary” manufacturing process.

Lego mocks Tesla with "guaranteed shatterproof" brick model of Cybertruck

The real success of the company lies in the fact that they do not stop innovating once they reach their goals. They keep trying new ways which can prove to be beneficial for the customers. Before the 2019 event, Musk had given glimpses of various Cybertruck design influences, attributing inspiration to films like Bladerunner and The Spy Who Loved Me, where vehicles showcased sharply angled fronts and wedge shapes. Led by Franz Von Holzhausen, Tesla takes design innovation up a notch.

Was it design thinking that did wonders for Tesla?

The cars Tesla built had the longest range, were more affordable, and had the quickest acceleration among all other electric cars in production. Traditionally, a performance electric car would cost way higher than its fuel variants, and this is where Musk brought in his design thinking approach. After the tremendous response it received from Cybertruck, the company wasted no time turning this innovative approach into reality by implementing it in their sedans.

A lot of experts figured Tesla would be out of business in a few years, as the cost of launching new vehicles killed the company. The new Model S has some light updates to the exterior of the car, including a standard large glass roof, but the biggest visual change is inside. Tesla has axed the portrait touchscreen in favor of one more like what’s found in the Model 3 and Model Y, though with far smaller bezels (like we’ve seen on the Cybertruck prototype). There’s also a stalkless U-shaped butterfly steering wheel, much like what we’ve seen in the forthcoming second-generation Roadster, and a screen behind the center console for rear-seat passengers. Unlike the Model 3 and Model Y, the new Model S still features a screen behind the steering wheel. Von Holzhausen gets to envision the future on its own terms — gorgeous electric cars that will someday be able to drive themselves.

On Tuesday, the company’s share price shot up by 12% after an update revealed the carmaker was hoping to accelerate the production of lower-priced EVs, with production of the first cars beginning as early as this year. Yes, Tesla has been in the process of building vehicles that have self-driving capabilities, and these cars are being put through rigorous testing to ensure ultimate safety. At present, Tesla’s sedans are at a Level 2 out of the Level 5 autonomy, where the cars still require manual interventions during their operation.

Tesla has certainly endured its ups and downs, but von Holzhausen is universally admired for his designs. The only other carmaker that has consistently done this is Porsche, building on the basic original look of the 911 sports car. Von Holzhausen's efficiency approach is particularly evident  on this front. The entire interior of all Tesla's is organized around a large central touchscreen that controls almost all vehicle functions. The Roadster's Lotus underpinnings meant that when those ran out, Tesla would need a new car.

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Though many designers criticise their interface, it is one of the first cars to introduce features that make driving a little more comfortable and lighter. They look at developing software functionality every few weeks allowing the user to enjoy variability indulging a more tech-savvy generation and making an impression that is valued more socially. The new Model S starts at $79,990 for a “Long Range” dual-motor version that gets 412 miles of range. Or people can spend $119,000 for one with the new, more powerful “Plaid” powertrain that goes 390 miles with that sub-2 second 0–60 time.

Some commentators believe this marks a complete shelving of the Model 2 plan. The vehicle would have required a move away from the traditional assembly lines. In a call with investors, the Tesla boss Elon Musk clarified that this would probably mean production starting “by early 2025, if not late this year”. It’s important to be detail-oriented and truly care about the craft, just as much as being humble and friendly.

If we expect a similar 11-12% improvement, then you’ll see roughly a ~300 mile EPA range on the SR and ~370 miles on the LR. Tesla has also been accused of overstating vehicle range so these numbers should be taken in context. The most striking change is obviously the new design, which keeps most of the same look of the current Model 3, but changes the front end to look sleeker, removing the somewhat bulbous bump in the front end of the current Model 3. The ride quality should also be improved with updated suspension tuning and a stiffer body.

They are even moving into other forms of design, as they recently launched their own branded tequila which comes in a specially designed bottle shaped like a lightning bolt—a symbol for the company’s electric cars. It is a hand-blown glass bottle that comes with an angular metal stand that holds the tip of the bottle. Tesla has just announced the first major redesign of the Model S since it launched the electric sedan in 2012. It capitalised on its disruptive technology that moves away from traditional norms, slowly but surely gaining its success and making its way to replace the prevalent mainstream market. When von Holzhausen joined Tesla in 2008, the company was contending with a near-bankruptcy.