Tesla Designer Franz von Holzhausen Reveals He’s Been Imagining a Robotaxi for Years

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Tesla chief designer Franz von Holzhausen speaks at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California, USA, 21 December 2023.
Photo: ALLISON DINNER/EPA-EFE / Shutterstock

About 12 years ago, shortly after Tesla began delivering the Model S, chief designer Franz von Holzhausen began envisioning the future of autonomous vehicles. His foresight into the potential of robotaxis laid the groundwork for what Tesla is preparing to unveil on October 10 at an event in Los Angeles.

Von Holzhausen has played a pivotal role at Tesla, leading the design team for the Model 3, Model Y, and the Tesla Semi. Yet, as he discussed in a recent interview with TechCrunch during the UP.Summit, he has been conceptualizing a robotaxi for years, well before it became a mainstream topic.

“I just think that it felt inevitable we would get there,” von Holzhausen said, explaining why he began thinking about robotaxi design so early in his career. His early considerations are now coming to fruition as Tesla gears up for a significant announcement regarding the future of transportation.

As anticipation builds for the upcoming event, it remains unclear whether Tesla will introduce a concept vehicle, a more advanced prototype, or something else entirely. This revelation comes after years of speculation and unmet promises from CEO Elon Musk regarding the timeline for showcasing such a vehicle and the implementation of the technology that enables fully autonomous driving without human intervention.

While von Holzhausen did not disclose specific details about the upcoming reveal, he described it as “intriguing,” “interesting,” and “fun.” He emphasized that Tesla’s existing lineup of vehicles has established a foundation for what lies ahead.

“In a strange sort of way, we’ve been working our way — in a very public way — to what an autonomous future will look like,” he explained. “You see the big interface that we have, the way it’s configurable and upgradable, and we bring a variety of entertainment pieces to it, and some humor as well. I think that will continue to evolve.”

The concept of introducing innovative technology through design has been a continuous theme throughout Tesla’s journey. Von Holzhausen cited the self-presenting door handle, introduced in the early days of Tesla, as an example of this philosophy. “That was like a handshake with technology,” he recalled, highlighting its role in helping consumers become comfortable with vehicles as part of their daily lives.

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Looking toward the future, von Holzhausen expressed optimism about the widespread accessibility of autonomous driving technology. “I desperately don’t want my kids to have to worry about getting a driver’s license, or driving at all,” he said, indicating his belief that self-driving technology could alleviate some of the burdens associated with traditional driving.

He likened the current transition to autonomous vehicles to the historic shift from horse and buggy to automobile — a comparison often made by Musk. “There was one way of getting around forever, and everybody was accustomed to it — you had to do it,” von Holzhausen noted. “Nobody talks about the bad side of that situation,” he added, pointing out the responsibilities that came with horse ownership, such as feeding and cleaning up after them.

“We’re kind of in a similar situation where we’re just tolerating what we know,” he said. Von Holzhausen sees the opportunity for a radical change, which, although it may seem daunting, presents a chance to rethink how people utilize their time and experiences.

“The challenge is also the opportunity,” he explained. “As a designer, I think it’s really great because now we have the ability to shape how people use their time, what their lives can be like, how they can get to places where they wouldn’t have gone before, and what their experiences can be like.”

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