Business|NPR Topics: Business|Feb 3
China bans hidden car door handles, which can trap people after crashes
China has become the first nation to require a change to make it easier to rescue people from car crashes: Car doors must be able to open from either side mechanically, like by lifting a handle. NHTSA is also evaluating a petition that they investigate a related complaint, that Tesla Model 3 vehicles' interior door releases can also pose a hazard in the event of a crash or battery failure. Both handle designs have been linked to fatalities; Bloomberg identified 15 deaths linked to crashes in which a Tesla's doors wouldn't open, including some in which occupants couldn't open doors from the inside.
3 min
