Tesla (TSLA) is redesigning its vehicle door handles to improve safety and make them more user-friendly, Bloomberg reported. The move comes after a probe launched by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) due to reports that electronic door handles on the Model Y failed to open during emergencies, leaving some occupants trapped inside.
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In a recent Bloomberg News podcast, Franz von Holzhausen, the company’s longtime design chief, said the new design aims to integrate the electronic and manual door-release mechanisms into a single, intuitive button, particularly for “a panic situation.” He did not specify what prompted the company to pursue the redesign.
Safety Under Scrutiny
Tesla’s current door handles rely on electric signals to unlock, which can fail if the car’s power is low. While manual releases do exist inside the vehicle, they are often hard to locate, especially for children or passengers in distress. In at least four reported cases, owners had to break windows to escape or rescue others.
Yesterday, the NHTSA disclosed a probe covering over 174,000 Model Y vehicles from the 2021 model year. It will also assess the reliability of the power supplies for the door locks.
This is not the first time Tesla has faced door-related scrutiny. Since 2018, NHTSA has received over 140 complaints about Tesla doors malfunctioning or becoming stuck. Further, the company had recalled over 120,000 Model S and X vehicles in 2023 due to doors unlocking during crashes.
What Is the Prediction for Tesla Stock?
Turning to Wall Street, TSLA stock has a Hold consensus rating based on 13 Buys, 13 Holds, and eight Sells assigned in the last three months. At $310.73, the average Tesla price target implies a 27.03% downside risk. The stock has gained 89% over the past six months.
