Tesla is set to pay homage to its California roots with a unique sculpture outside its Global Engineering Headquarters in Palo Alto. The proposed statue, inspired by both the Cybertruck’s angular design and California’s state animal, the grizzly bear, symbolizes the company’s enduring connection to the Golden State.
Although Tesla relocated its headquarters to Texas in 2021 under CEO Elon Musk’s direction, the company maintains significant operations in California. These include the Fremont Factory, where popular models like the 3, S, Y, and X are manufactured, as well as the Palo Alto Global Engineering Headquarters.
The sculpture project, recently uncovered by Palo Alto Online, is detailed in Tesla’s application for a new installation at 3000 Hanover Street. Tesla describes the concept as follows:
“The proposed sculpture design was developed in-house and is a product of multi-disciplinary collaboration within Tesla. The concept is a stylized, low-poly California Grizzly bear meant to combine Tesla’s design language with California’s Grizzly bear, and highlight the common message of strength and unyielding resistance.”
The statue will feature aged metal and smooth concrete, enhanced by red, green, blue, and white LED lighting. This illumination will accentuate the sculpture’s unique geometrical form, reminiscent of the Cybertruck’s distinctive appearance.
While the project awaits official approval, it’s expected to face little opposition. Once completed, the statue will stand at the intersection of Page Mill and Hanover, serving as a striking visual reminder of Tesla’s California heritage.
This artistic endeavor not only celebrates Tesla’s origins but also showcases the company’s innovative spirit extending beyond automotive design into public art. As Tesla continues to expand globally, this sculpture will stand as a testament to the company’s enduring connection to the state where it all began in 2003.
