Just recently, we informed you of a leaked photo that could very well have been the interior of the Tesla Model 3. It was so simplistic in nature that it was ridiculous with almost no character to things like the dashboard and center console. Some would argue that the interior was hideous while others were happy to see such a minimalist approach. But, all of that could change, as Electrek is reporting that Tesla has managed to poach the engineering talent of none other than Volvo’s Anders Bell – a man who knows a few things about designing comfortable, attractive, and functional interiors. And, this isn’t hearsay either, as ell has finally confirmed his new role with Tesla via his LinkedIn profile.
For those of you who don’t know, Anders Bell joined Swedish automaker Volvo when he graduated engineering school way back in 1998. Since then, he has led several internal engineering programs at Volvo before finding himself as the executive overseer of all interior operations. You’ll recognize his most recent work inside the 2015 Volvo S60L. He also designed the seats that were used in the 2015 Volvo XC90. He was also in charge of overseeing the launch of the Volvo XC60. Needless to say, the man knows his stuff and could bring some serious change to the next-gen Model S and Model X, as well as the upcoming Model 3. The latter has yet to be fully unveiled and is technically still in development, so you can bet you’ll be seeing Bell’s work with Tesla sooner than later.
This is a huge development for Tesla. The brand happens to be the best thing going as far as all-electric mobility and autonomous capabilities but has long been scrutinized for its subpar interiors that always seem to be overshadowed by the competition – outside of the massive display screen, of course.
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Why it Matters
The images above showcase Bell’s recent work in the XC90, and it just goes to show what kind of quality and luxuriousness that Bell is capable of creating. His work could help push Tesla over the top and finally make its models capable of competing with the likes of Volvo, BMW, and Mercedes, among others. Given the horrendous quality and design of that leaked shot of the Model 3’s interior, I suspect that we’ll see something much more appealing the next time there’s a leaked photo of the Model 3. And, if we don’t see another leaked image, we certainly have something to look forward to when Tesla finally spills the whole can of beans. And, just for the record, this isn’t just a quick change of jobs. Bell is actually moving from Sweden all the way to California to work with Tesla, so it’s a large commitment not only for Tesla but also for the engineering genius that we all know as Anders Bell.
Read our full review on the Tesla Model 3 here.