Tesla's door handle design is under increased scrutiny from European safety regulators. The Dutch authority RDW announced plans to strengthen rules ensuring vehicles can be exited after crashes. This follows incidents where drivers were trapped due to power failures.
Tesla Inc. faces growing regulatory attention in Europe over its innovative door handle design, which has raised safety concerns in crash scenarios. The RDW, the Dutch authority responsible for inspecting and approving Tesla vehicles for the European Union market, stated on Thursday that it will update rules to address potential shortcomings. The focus is on ensuring occupants can safely exit vehicles after a crash and that first responders can access them, even if power is lost.
This move aligns with a broader global effort to examine Tesla's flush door handles, popularized by the electric vehicle leader. Reports highlight several incidents where Tesla drivers became trapped following collisions that caused power failures in the door mechanisms. In some cases, vehicles caught fire, exacerbating the danger by cutting power and preventing escape.
An RDW representative told Bloomberg: “Doors must always be operable — from the inside by occupants and from the outside by emergency responders — even in the event of a power failure. Where current regulations fall short due to the introduction of new door concepts, this issue is being addressed within the respective committees.”
Tesla's shares slipped nearly 1.5% during Thursday afternoon trading amid the news. The scrutiny comes as regulators worldwide, including in the US and China, evaluate similar designs for emergency egress.