Tesla door handles: Potential risks in case of power outage after an accident.
Tesla's modern, hidden door handle design is under investigation for the potential to trap users after accidents caused by power outages, raising safety concerns.
Risks of minimalist design
Tesla has long pursued a minimalist design philosophy, eliminating mechanical details and buttons in favor of software control. However, this approach is revealing potential risks, particularly with the car door opening mechanism in emergency situations.
The flat, retractable door handles are one of Tesla's signature design features. A problem arises when the vehicle is involved in a serious accident resulting in a low voltage power supply. At this point, the electronic door system may be disabled, making it difficult for both those inside and rescue personnel to open the doors.
According to a Bloomberg investigation, over the past decade in the US, there have been at least 15 deaths allegedly linked to Tesla vehicle doors failing to open in time after accidents, particularly in vehicle fires. Notably, more than half of these cases occurred in recent years, indicating the increasing prevalence of the problem.
The primary cause is that collisions damage the low-voltage electrical system, causing both the exterior door handles and the interior electronic door release levers to malfunction. Although Tesla vehicles are equipped with manual door opening mechanisms, their locations vary across different models and generations. This makes it difficult for users to locate and activate them in a panic.
In response to this issue, Tesla asserted that its vehicles fully meet federal safety standards and argued that this is a common challenge for the entire automotive industry, not just Tesla. However, with the large number of Tesla vehicles on the road, incidents involving Tesla vehicles occur with increasing frequency.
Currently, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into the door defect on the Tesla Model Y. Regulatory agencies in Europe and China are also reviewing related safety regulations. Tesla, for its part, says it is researching solutions, including an automatic unlocking mechanism when the battery is low or a redesigned door handle incorporating both electric and mechanical mechanisms.
Market context: Nissan needs hybrid vehicles, Cybertruck price reduction.
While Tesla faces safety concerns, Nissan is struggling with profitability in the US market. Although its retail market share has increased from 4.2% to 4.9%, the average profit margin for dealerships remains very low, at only about 0.9% of total sales. According to Mike Rezi, President of Nissan's National Dealer Advisory Board, the solution lies in adding hybrid models instead of focusing solely on electric vehicles. Expected models include the new Sentra, an upgraded Pathfinder, and especially the Rogue hybrid e-Power.
In other news, the Tesla Cybertruck electric pickup truck is experiencing a rapid decline in value on the used car market. From an initial price that could exceed 1.9 billion VND, many Cybertrucks are now being offered for sale at prices ranging from 1.5 to 1.7 billion VND. A 2024 Cybertruck Dual-Motor AWD with nearly 32,000 km on the odometer was auctioned for approximately 1.45 billion VND. Automotive expert Doug DeMuro predicts this trend will continue and that the price of used Cybertrucks could drop to 820–850 million VND within the next 18 months.