The company already seeks to replace them

Tesla announces changes in the design of its electronic handles after the American road safety authority opened an investigation this week. Its electronic shooters have gone around the world after popular cases in which people were trapped inside. The brand promises A solution that combines electronic and manual mechanisms in a single button, facilitating escape in emergency situations.

What’s happening. The National Road Traffic Security Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an investigation after receiving nine complaints from Tesla owners who could not open their doors from the outside due to the failure of the electronic handles. In four of these cases, drivers had to break the windows to access the vehicle and rescue their children from the interior.

REdiseño underway. Franz von Holzhause, Tesla design manager, confirmed To Bloomberg that the company works in a new solution that unifies the opening systems. “The idea of ​​combining electronic and manual in a single button makes a lot of sense,” explained the manager. “It’s something we are working on.” The objective is to create a more intuitive mechanism for occupants “in a panic situation.”

The background problem. The current Tesla shooters have two critical weaknesses: they use electronic locks that may fail if they do not receive energy from the vehicle’s battery, and although they include emergency manual systems, they are difficult to locate and access, especially for children or passengers little familiar with the car. A Bloomberg investigation document 140 incidents of people trapped in Tesla vehicles due to problems with the handles, several of them with serious injuries.

International pressure. Tesla also monitors possible regulatory changes in China, where the authorities They study prohibiting handles completely hidden for security reasons. “We will have a very good solution for that”, assured von Holzhausen. The Asian giant, main world market for electric vehiclescould mark the global course if it implements restrictions on this type of systems.

And now what. Although Tesla has not specified when the new solution will be ready or if it will apply to existing models, the regulatory pressure accelerates the times. At the moment we are waiting to know in detail what is the system that finally ends up applying the company.

Cover image | Everyamp

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