July 30, 2026 - NHTSA May Ban Electromechanical Door Handles

This is the Telemetry Transportation Daily for July 30, 2026, and I'm Sam Abuelsamid, Vice President of Market Research for Telemetry. 

The late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs once said,  “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” That's an idea that more automotive designers need to consider when creating human-machine interfaces. Aside from software-controlled vents, which are one of the dumbest ideas in recent history, one of the biggest annoyances with new vehicles in the past decade is door handles that retract into the door surface. I drive many different vehicles, and these door handles are frequently troublesome. Sure, they provide a sleeker look to the vehicle, but if they don't actually extend when you need to open the door, they might as well not even be there. Earlier this year, Chinese regulators issued new rules that require mechanical handles on both the inside and outside of the vehicle with a minimum size.  Any new vehicles launched from Jan. 1, 2027 and existing vehicles after January 2029 will require door handles that meet those rules. 

These electronic door handles are not simply inconvenient; they are also dangerous if there is a crash and the car loses power.  At least a dozen people have died in Tesla crashes with retractable handles because rescuers couldn't get in to assist.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently conducting an investigation into electromechanical door handles and is currently working on new regulations that would mandate handles that are easier to operate. Unfortunately, NHTSA is not known for moving quickly, and it will likely be at least another year or two before any new regulation is finalized, and then there is typically a three-year phase-in before all vehicles must comply. That would likely mean we still have these door handles in use until at least 2030 or later. 

Thanks for listening.