Gary Zhou 
Franz von Holzhausen, Chief Design Officer of Tesla, recently held an online Q&A session in China with some members of the media present. Franz shared many perspectives on the Cybertruck design, as well as the inspirations behind the striking origami-like appearance of the all-electric pickup truck.
When asked about the Cybertruck by members of the media, Franz noted that when it was developing the vehicle, Tesla faced some notable challenges. The Tesla Chief Designer also clarified that while in the United States there are many great pickup trucks, there are still a lot of possibilities in the market. The Cybertruck targets some of these possibilities.
According to Franz, Tesla claims that pickup trucks must be solid and reliable. And because modern pickup trucks are susceptible to damage such as dents, scratches, and wear, the company has chosen to use much more durable stainless steel. However, because it is hard to shape, stainless steel poses its own challenges. This is the reason why the Cybertruck embraced an XY theme, with the exoskeleton of the pickup being folded rather than stamped.
Speaking of Tesla’s Cybertruck inspirations, Franz noted that the electric car manufacturer looked at vehicles such as fighter jets as a basis for the all-electric pickup truck. As the steel pickup, especially when it carries Tesla’s all-electric ATV on its bed, resembles the profile of the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk, a stealth fighter plane that was in service from October 1983 to April 2008, this statement certainly seems to ring true.
Franz also shared his excitement about the increasing presence and support of Tesla from China, while stressing that in the future there will be more exciting products.
“We hope to leave a better living environment for our future generations. Thank you for supporting Tesla. We don’t want everyone to give up in order to choose electric cars. Every day we want to hear everyone’s feedback to help us make our products better, and we will launch more exciting products in the future. We are also very leading in autonomous driving, and we are getting better every day. I hope everyone will change the world with us,” he said.
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