Tesla is addressing safety concerns with its flush door handles, which have led to incidents of drivers and passengers getting trapped inside vehicles. The company plans to integrate mechanical and electronic release mechanisms for quicker exits. This follows scrutiny from regulators in the US and China.
Tesla's flush door handles, designed for aerodynamic efficiency, have drawn criticism for posing safety risks. These handles tuck into the car's body to reduce drag, but they require electricity to operate, popping out only when the driver approaches or the unlock button is pressed. Without power, occupants face challenges exiting, as the system relies on electronic signals to unlatch doors.
Numerous incidents have been recorded where people were stuck inside Teslas due to unfamiliarity with manual opening procedures, some resulting in horrific injuries. Interior emergency mechanisms exist, but they are often hard to use in crises. For Model S and Model X, front doors open by pulling a handle above the window switches without power. Model X's rear Falcon doors require removing speaker grills to access a cable. Model 3 and Model Y front doors have a manual interior lever, while rear doors need a safety cable in the door pockets.
Opening doors from outside without power is even more difficult, necessitating access to the front trunk to connect a jumper pack and restore electricity. In emergencies, smashing windows to open from inside is an option, though it should be done carefully.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched a preliminary evaluation into cases where rescuers could not open doors externally. In China, regulators are considering a ban on flush handles. Tesla's chief designer, Franz von Holzhausen, stated on a Bloomberg podcast that the company aims "to combine mechanical and electronic door release mechanisms to make it easier for occupants to exit quickly." This redesign may mark Tesla as the first automaker to abandon the feature it popularized.