Tesla could be forced to abandon retractable door handles after a series of high-profile crashes
Pressure is mounting on Tesla in various countries over its fully recessed door handles. They can stop working after a crash, making it difficult to rescue passengers.
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The problem is that the retractable handles can stop working after a crash, preventing rescuers from quickly opening doors and evacuating people.
In China, a local regulator is already considering a complete ban on handles that are completely recessed into the bodywork. Automakers would be required to use a mechanical backup mechanism in case of electronic failure. The standard, if adopted, would apply to all manufacturers.
Meanwhile in the US, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation after 140 complaints against Tesla since 2018. Bloomberg cited several tragedies where Tesla's door problems exacerbated the aftermath of crashes:
- In California, a Cybertruck crashed into a tree and caught fire - killing three students trapped inside.
- In Wisconsin, a Model S fire killed five people who couldn't be quickly evacuated.
- Another case - a rescuer told journalists that he could not open the doors of a Tesla Model Y that caught fire after an accident and people trapped in the car had to be pulled out through broken windows.
In fact, Tesla cars have a mechanical emergency door-opening lever, but it's hard to find, especially for rear-row passengers - the location depends on the model and year of manufacture.
Franz von Holzhausen, the company's design chief, said Tesla is working on a simplified solution: combining the electronic and mechanical function into one button.
Sources: Bloomberg, Carnewschina
