Tesla plans to redesign its door-handle system
Tesla is redesigning its door-handle system to make it easier for passengers to exit vehicles in emergencies, Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen said in an interview with Bloomberg on Sept. 17. Holzhausen revealed the company is studying ways to integrate its separate electronic and manual unlocking mechanisms into a single button to reduce the risk of misuse. He said the approach “makes a lot of sense” and would improve intuitiveness in critical situations. The move coincides with Chinese regulators’ plans to restrict fully hidden electronic handles across the auto industry. Draft rules would ban such designs in favor of semi-hidden or traditional handles that must include mechanical redundancy, with implementation scheduled for July 2027, Holzhausen said. Tesla is reviewing potential regulatory adjustments in China and is prepared to comply. Just a day earlier, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) disclosed it is examining door-l...