Tesla is set to redesign its vehicle door handles in response to safety concerns raised in both the U.S. and China. Reports have highlighted cases where electronic door handles on certain Tesla Model Y vehicles became unresponsive, particularly during low power situations, potentially trapping occupants inside. This prompted an investigation by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is reviewing roughly 174,000 vehicles from the 2021 model year.
Tesla’s Chief Designer, Franz von Holzhausen, confirmed that the company is working on integrating electronic and manual door-release mechanisms into a single, intuitive control. The goal is to improve emergency access and ensure that all passengers can exit the vehicle safely, even if the electronic system fails.
The current flush door handle design has been criticized for being difficult to operate manually in urgent situations. Reports of children becoming trapped in vehicles have intensified scrutiny, leading regulators in China to consider banning fully concealed handles.
While Tesla has not specified a timeline for the rollout of the redesigned handles, future models are expected to include the updated system, and the company may offer retrofits for existing vehicles. The redesign demonstrates Tesla’s commitment to addressing safety concerns and enhancing the user experience in its vehicles.
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