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Tesla is redesigning its door handles following safety probe, Bloomberginvestigation
Tesla is redesigning its door handles for enhanced safety due to a new NHTSA probe and incidents where passengers were trapped inside vehicles. Chief designer Franz von Holzhausen announced that issues stem from electronic locks failing without battery power and inaccessible manual releases. A new design that combines electronic and manual functions is being considered.
Key points
- Tesla's chief designer, Franz von Holzhausen, indicated that the company is redesigning door handles.
- The redesign follows an NHTSA investigation prompted by nine complaints regarding door handle failures.
- Some cases involved owners needing to break windows to exit the car.
- Two main issues highlighted: electronic locks can fail if the battery is dead, and manual releases are hard to access.
- A proposed solution involves combining electronic and manual door releases into a single button.
Why it matters
- The European Union and China have pushed automakers to reconsider design aspects of vehicles related to safety.
- Similar safety concerns regarding electronic features in vehicles have emerged recently, affecting consumer trust.
- The emphasis on vehicle safety and innovative design is consistent with 2025 IT trends focusing on smart technology integration.
In response to safety investigations and incidents, Tesla aims to enhance its door handles' design, reflecting growing scrutiny over vehicle safety features amid evolving technological standards.