Door Handles
China finalizes ban on Tesla-style hidden EV door handles
Imeripotiwa na AI Picha iliyoundwa na AI
China has become the first country to ban flush, electronically actuated door handles on electric vehicles, citing safety concerns over emergency access. The new regulation, effective January 1, 2027, requires mechanical releases that function without power. This move targets a design popularized by Tesla and adopted by other EV makers amid growing scrutiny from deadly crashes.
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has issued strict new regulations requiring vehicles to have obvious mechanical door releases for emergencies. This comes alongside a US investigation into Tesla's electronic latches, prompting a likely global redesign of the company's iconic hidden handles. The changes aim to ensure doors can be opened easily even without power or familiarity with the vehicle.
Imeripotiwa na AI
John Urban filed a class-action lawsuit in Florida on January 10, 2026, accusing Tesla of defective electronically actuated door handles on 2014-2016 Model S vehicles that routinely fail after several years, creating access issues and safety risks. Three of four handles on his 2015 Model S Ludicrous stopped working by 2022, forcing inconvenient workarounds amid broader scrutiny of Tesla's door systems.