Tesla Plans Redesign of Electric Door Handles Amid NHTSA Probe
Key Points
- NHTSA opened an investigation into Tesla's electric door handles after a Bloomberg report highlighted a potential safety hazard.
- Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla's design chief, discussed a possible redesign that would combine electronic and manual release mechanisms into a single button.
- The redesign concept aims to prevent passenger entrapment if a low‑voltage battery failure disables the handles.
- Tesla is already under NHTSA scrutiny for its Autopilot and Full Self‑Driving crash‑reporting processes.
- No specific timeline or detailed specifications for the new door handle design have been provided.
- The situation highlights broader industry challenges in balancing electronic convenience with traditional safety standards.
Tesla is considering a redesign of its electric door handles after the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into the handles' safety. Design chief Franz von Holzhausen told Bloomberg that the company is exploring a combined electronic‑manual release button. The move follows earlier NHTSA scrutiny of Tesla’s crash‑reporting for its Autopilot and Full Self‑Driving systems. While Tesla has not detailed the redesign timeline, the discussion signals a response to regulatory concerns about potential passenger entrapment in emergencies.
Regulatory Scrutiny of Tesla’s Door Handles
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into Tesla after a Bloomberg report highlighted a safety issue with the automaker’s electric door handles. The report suggested that a failure of a vehicle’s low‑voltage battery could render the handles inoperable, potentially trapping occupants during an emergency such as a crash.
Tesla’s Response and Design Direction
In response, Tesla design head Franz von Holzhausen appeared on Bloomberg’s Hot Pursuit! podcast to discuss the company’s plans. He indicated that Tesla is working on a new approach that merges the electronic release with a manual mechanism into a single button. "The idea of combining the electronic one and the manual one together into one button, I think, makes a lot of sense," von Holzhausen said. He did not provide a specific timeline or detailed specifications for the redesign.
Context of Ongoing NHTSA Investigations
This focus on door handles comes as Tesla is already under NHTSA scrutiny for other safety matters. Earlier in the year, the regulator opened an investigation into how Tesla reports crashes involving its Autopilot and Full Self‑Driving (FSD) systems. Tesla attributed inconsistencies in those reports to a system error that it has since corrected, but NHTSA indicated it would continue its probe.
Implications for Tesla Owners and the Industry
The potential redesign of the door handles underscores the challenges automakers face when integrating advanced electronic features with traditional safety expectations. If Tesla implements a combined electronic‑manual release, it could address the specific safety concern raised by NHTSA while preserving the convenience of its current design.
Looking Ahead
While Tesla has not disclosed when the new handle design will be available, the discussion on Bloomberg suggests that the company is actively addressing the regulator’s concerns. Stakeholders, including current and prospective owners, will be watching for further updates on the redesign and any additional findings from the NHTSA investigation.