Tesla is redesigning its door handles following safety probe, Bloomberg investigation

Tesla is actively rethinking the design of its door handles to enhance passenger safety, as revealed by chief designer Franz von Holzhausen in an interview with Bloomberg News. This announcement follows a recent investigation launched by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) into incidents where individuals became trapped inside Tesla vehicles after accidents. The initiative to redesign the door handles comes on the heels of a Bloomberg investigation that uncovered several cases of owners and passengers struggling to exit their cars post-collision. Although von Holzhausen did not disclose the timeline for this decision, the urgency is clear, especially after the NHTSA received nine complaints regarding door handle failures. Among the issues identified are the electronic locks used in Tesla's door handles, which can fail if the vehicle's battery loses power. Additionally, while manual door releases are integrated into the cars, they are often difficult to locate and operate in emergencies. "Combining the electronic and manual mechanisms into a single button is a logical step, and that’s something we’re currently developing," von Holzhausen stated. The NHTSA's investigation opened on Tuesday, after reports indicated that some Tesla owners resorted to breaking windows to escape their vehicles. Although Tesla provides guidance in its owner’s manuals for using an external power source to activate non-responsive electronic locks, the NHTSA noted that many owners had not received any low-voltage battery warnings, leaving them unaware of the potential issues until it was too late.