Tesla Door Handles Under Scrutiny: US Safety Regulators Consider New Rules

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is moving toward a potential new safety standard for vehicle door handles, prompted by a series of incidents involving Tesla cars. In several cases, including fatal ones, people have been unable to exit the vehicles after crashes, reportedly due to the unconventional flush-mounted door handles. The agency has opened a formal rule-making process to evaluate whether current regulations are sufficient or if automakers should be required to implement more intuitive emergency release mechanisms. This development could affect not only Tesla but the broader automotive industry as manufacturers adopt increasingly minimalist interior designs.