Tesla Plans Redesign of Door Handles Amid Safety Concerns

Tesla is set to redesign its door handles following safety concerns and a federal investigation into potential malfunctions that could trap occupants inside vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently initiated an inquiry into reports that Tesla's electronic door handles may become inoperable if the vehicle's low-voltage battery fails, posing a risk of entrapment during emergencies.

Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla's design chief, discussed the issue on Bloomberg's "Hot Pursuit!" podcast, stating that the company is exploring a new design that integrates both electronic and manual release mechanisms. "The idea of combining the electronic one and the manual one together into one button, I think, makes a lot of sense," he said. "That's something that we're working on."

The NHTSA's investigation focuses on the 2021 Tesla Model Y, following nine reports where parents were unable to open doors to access their children in the back seat. In four instances, individuals resorted to breaking windows to gain entry.

Tesla's stock price has historically been sensitive to safety recalls. For example, a 2024 recall of 694,304 vehicles due to a tire pressure monitoring system issue led to a 5.04% pre-market drop.

The company has previously faced scrutiny over its door handle design. In 2019, an incident in Florida involved a Tesla Model S where the driver was trapped inside as the car caught fire, reportedly due to the retracted door handles.

Tesla has not specified a timeline for implementing the redesigned door handles.