Tesla's chief designer is planning on making changes to vehicle doors to help in emergency situations

Tesla’s door handles are once again in the spotlight, and Tesla’s chief designer, Franz von Holzhausen, says changes are coming.

Speaking to Bloomberg, he explained that the company has been working on a redesign to make the interior releases easier to use in emergencies.

The update comes as regulators in the US and abroad examine whether electronic-only door handles pose a safety risk.

For Tesla, the timing is critical.

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Tesla’s chief designer says a fix is on the way

The main concern centers on how Tesla’s electronically controlled handles and buttons behave when the car loses power.

Unlike traditional mechanical handles, Teslas rely on electronic switches both inside and outside the car.

While models do include manual backup releases, reports have highlighted how these can be hard to locate and difficult for children to operate.

In several cases, drivers or passengers have reported feeling trapped after a crash, sparking renewed scrutiny.

Tesla’s chief designer says the company is already at work on a fix.

In case you don’t know who he is, he’s the one who threw steel balls at the Cybertruck during the 2019 reveal and ended up cracking the window.

Despite causing two smashed windows, von Holzhausen said that the act ended up being a ‘great marketing moment’.

But what exactly is the fix for the door handles?

The company plans to combine its standard electronic button with the backup mechanical latch into a single lever.

“So in the moment that you’re in a panic situation, the muscle memory to go to what you know is right there,” he told Bloomberg’s Hot Pursuit podcast.

“You just pull a little bit further on the lever, and you have the mechanical release.”

By merging both functions into one motion, the company hopes to make it intuitive for anyone to get a door open quickly.

The announcement comes as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launches an investigation into the automaker’s 2021 Model Y.

NHTSA’s current investigation focuses on exterior handles, particularly after receiving complaints that 2021 Model Y owners couldn’t open their cars when the 12-volt battery failed.

Without power, Tesla’s door handles reportedly became useless, with no manual override.

While the agency has noted the carmaker’s interior mechanisms as part of the conversation, its primary concern is the lack of backup from the outside.

Regulators are scrutinizing Tesla’s door handles

The US isn’t the only jurisdiction taking notice.

Regulators in China are weighing whether to ban flush electronic handles that lack mechanical backups, a move that could affect several automakers beyond Tesla.

Tesla’s chief designer said the design team is already reviewing those proposals and expects to deliver a solution that meets global rules.

For the company, the update could serve as both a safety improvement and a public relations boost.

After all, sleek design is a hallmark of the brand, but in an emergency, simplicity and reliability matter most.

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