US safety regulators have proposed a new rule that would require all passenger vehicle doors to be openable from the inside using a manual mechanical release, even after a crash that severs electrical power. The draft regulation, published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is aimed at preventing occupants from being trapped in electric vehicles that rely on electronic door latches.
Tesla, whose Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck feature flush door handles and electronic release systems, would be among the most affected manufacturers. In recent years, emergency services in the US have reported difficulties opening Tesla doors at accident scenes, particularly when the vehicle’s 12-volt battery is damaged. The proposed rule mandates that a visible, labelled manual release be present on all doors, a feature Tesla already includes on some models but often in less obvious locations.
For UK Tesla owners, the implications are indirect but significant. Tesla’s UK models use the same door architecture as their US counterparts, and while UK regulations currently do not require a mechanical override, the company has previously updated its designs in response to US safety standards. The Financial Times reported that the NHTSA’s move follows a petition from safety advocates after a 2021 incident in which a Tesla driver died in a fire while trapped inside a vehicle with non-functional electronic doors.
Industry analysts note that the proposed rule could add manufacturing costs and delay new model launches, but it may also push Tesla to adopt more conventional door handles—a change that would affect the brand’s minimalist design philosophy. “This is a classic tension between aesthetics and safety,” said a London-based automotive analyst. “If the rule becomes law, every EV maker selling in the US will have to comply, and that tends to ripple through global supply chains.”
The NHTSA is accepting public comments until late September 2026. No final decision has been made, but the proposal signals a regulatory shift that could reshape how electric vehicle doors are designed worldwide. UK road safety groups have welcomed the move, calling for similar updates to domestic regulations.