Tesla Design Chief on Apple Products: 'There's Nothing to Look Forward To'

[MacRumors]

Tesla design chief Franz von Holzhausen recently commented on Apple's design principles and product launches, lamenting that Apple doesn't deliver something "to look forward to."

During a podcast interview with Spike Feresten of Spike's Car Radio (via iPhone in Canada and Sawyer Merritt), Holzhausen said that Apple's devices are "just a continuation" and a "slight refinement on the same thing."

The sad part about Apple products now is like there's nothing to look forward to. I feel like it's just a continuation. It's just a slight refinement on the same thing. Inspirationally, it's been hard to get super motivated by what they're doing.

He also said that he "hates to say it" but he wears an Apple Watch "just because of the fitness thing side to it. Otherwise I haven't really found much purpose to it, other than the fitness part."

Holzhausen is responsible for designing the Tesla Model S, the Model 3, the Model X, and the Model Y, along with the unreleased Cybertruck. He has been with Tesla since 2008, and before that, he was the chief of design at Mazda and led the design of the Mazda Kabura concept car.

Apple and Tesla have a long history of poaching employees from one another, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has also publicly sniped at Apple. Back in 2015, Musk famously called Apple the "Tesla Graveyard," and claimed that "if you don't make it at Tesla, you go work at Apple."

Article Link: Tesla Design Chief on Apple Products: 'There's Nothing to Look Forward To'

 

[robco74]

Well, at least Apple can actually deliver products...

 

[spiderman0616]

The guy that designed the Cybertruck is saying all this? That pretty much explains it.

 

[FlavorfulTreat]

Ummm, ok Tesla - COOL

 

[StupidOpinion]

hello, macrumors users. no need to get offended. they attacked apple, not you.

 

[LawJolla]

This from one of the worst automotive designers in the business... His designs range from pedestrian (model Y) to bizarre (truck).

Stick at Tesla. Mercedes, Lexus, and the others don't have a job offers.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Wow! Is this guy really calling out Apple like that? Is this a joke?

Trending at 2.8+ Trillion dollars in the market today. This is Apple. Trust and believe Apple has been delivering ground break products. So, yes, there is something to look forward to. All eyes are on iPhone 14

 

[Xarthan]

Uh Tesla does the exact same thing to their cars every year.

Holzhausen said that Apple's devices are "just a continuation" and a "slight refinement on the same thing."

 

[a m u n]

Someone’s worried about the Apple car?

 

[UltimateSyn]

Huh? Teslas have looked the same since their inception.

 

[jonnysods]

Blimey, Apple changed the computing industry with their new SOC system in the last year and a bit, came out with fantastic MBPs, and there is the iMac Pro and Mac Pro's still to go. I'm pretty pumped to see what comes next actually.

 

[dugbug]

Clearly he is not waiting for an imac 27" apple silicon

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Someone’s worried about the Apple car?

He’s scared and can’t wait for what Apple will deliver in the automotive market.

 

[C7 POWER]

Hes not wrong though, Since Tim Cook Apple has played it very safe and has not really done a lot of exciting updates to the iPhone for example. The X was the big leap but since then innovation has stalled. The Apple Watch as well. I upgrade annually, but lets be real, Apple has not innovated in a long time.

 

[ohthehorror]

While I’m an Apple products user I have to agree somewhat. Apple does evolve products. Nothing really revolutionary. Very few “One more thing” moments. Just my opinion some put your flames back in your holsters.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Clearly he is not waiting for an imac 27" apple silicon

Or the iPhone? Pretty sure he owns plenty of Apple products.

 

[john katos]

The guy who designed the model 3, wow. Hey, Franz, you don't need a grill. O.K., just throw a slab up front. Hey, Franz, can we make it both lefthand and righthand drive? Sure, we'll put everything in the middle so everybody can turn their head to see what's going on.

 

[CarlJ]

Holzhausen said that Apple's devices are "just a continuation" and a "slight refinement on the same thing."

And every Tesla car after the first is "just a continuation" and a "slight refinement on the same thing."

 

[ghanwani]

He hit the nail on the head.

 

[SonOfaMac]

Porsche 911 come to mind............. I am sure lots of people with the money look forward to that

 

[rcread]

I always listen to Spike's podcast on Wednesday morning. When I awoke and saw his guest was Franz, I deleted without listening. Though he has a point about Apple, he's among the worst designers in the business.

 

[UltimateSyn]

Hes not wrong though, Since Tim Cook Apple has played it very safe and has not really done a lot of exciting updates to the iPhone for example. The X was the big leap but since then innovation has stalled. The Apple Watch as well. I upgrade annually, but lets be real, Apple has not innovated in a long time.

I take less issue with the actual content of the statement than the irony of it coming from Tesla's lead designer.

 

[Bandaman]

So ... where's that Roadster that was announced years ago?

 

[Dwalls90]

This just in: A potential future competitor talks down about another potential future competitor. More news at 11!

 

[BC2009]

Tesla does not even update their cars annually. In its entire run, the Model S has had only 1 iterative revision. I can barely tell the Model 3 and the Model Y apart. Only two new things they have done are Model X (which has not significantly changed since release) and the (gag) cybertruck which they have not delivered.

Of all people to complain that Apple is not doing anything new in design it should not be coming from this guy. Even copycat Samsung has done more drastic innovative designs with their foldable phones.

UPDATE: I figured out what he must have meant by “There’s Nothing to Look Forward To”. He thinks Apple should announce more products and services that they are not going to deliver for years or ever. That way you can look forward to them.

Tesla has set the example here:
- Tesla Semi
- Tesla Roadster
- Tesla Cybertruck

And the best one of all… the one you can pay for in advance while looking forward to it and hoping it will one day work:
- Tesla Full Self Driving