Tesla set to revamp door handles amid NHTSA inquiry
Tesla, the leading electric vehicle manufacturer, is currently redesigning its vehicle door handles due to a U.S. federal investigation into their reliability. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a probe into approximately 174,000 Model Y vehicles from the 2021 model year, following nine consumer complaints that doors could fail to open after the vehicle loses power, potentially trapping children inside.
In an interview on Bloomberg’s Hot Pursuit podcast, Tesla’s chief designer Franz von Holzhausen revealed that the update is aimed at making exits easier, especially in a panic situation. The redesign is intended to address the concerns raised by the NHTSA investigation and to improve the functionality and safety of Tesla's vehicles.
Currently, Tesla vehicles have two ways to open a door from inside the vehicle: an electronic button and a mechanical release. The emergency releases for the driver and front passenger are easily accessible and located near the window controls. However, for rear passengers, the location of the mechanical release is less intuitive, located under a cover in the door pocket. Some drivers have resorted to breaking windows to regain access when electronic handles stopped functioning.
The redesign may merge the electronic and manual release mechanisms into a single, simplified control. This change aims to make exits easier and more straightforward, especially in emergency situations. Franz von Holzhausen did not provide a timeline for when the redesign might make it into production.
The investigation will examine whether Tesla's approach to powering its locks and latches is reliable in emergency situations. The review will also study the details of the redesign of Tesla's vehicle door handles in China.
Tesla's ongoing efforts to improve the functionality and safety of its vehicles are evident in the 2022 redesign of the rear door emergency release, which was made easier to access. The company is committed to ensuring the safety and convenience of its customers, and this redesign is a testament to that commitment.
In conclusion, Tesla's door handle redesign is a response to the federal investigation into the reliability of its electronic door handles. The redesign aims to make exits easier, especially in a panic situation, by merging the electronic and manual release mechanisms into a single, simplified control. The company is studying the details of the redesign in China and is committed to ensuring the safety and convenience of its customers.
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