A new federal safety push is zeroing in on one of the most futuristic features in modern vehicles: flush, power dependent door releases popularized by Tesla and now seen on the Cybertruck. The proposal would force automakers to rethink how drivers and first responders open vehicles when electronics fail, putting one company’s design choices squarely in the spotlight. At stake is whether sleek, software driven hardware can coexist with old fashioned, mechanical backups that work in the worst moments.
The SAFE Exit Act and a direct challenge to Tesla’s design
The emerging legislation, known as The SAFE Exit Act, is tailored to a deceptively simple idea, that every new vehicle should have an easy to find, purely mechanical way to open its doors even if the battery dies or wiring is damaged in a crash. U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly has framed the effort as a response to electric vehicle growth and the need to keep basic escape routes intuitive, saying, “As the auto industry continues to innovate, we must ensure people’s safety,” in a statement that introduced The SAFE Exit Act. Her office has been explicit that the bill is meant to set a national standard for electric vehicle doors, not just offer voluntary guidance.
Kelly’s announcement made clear that Tesla is a primary reference point, with the press materials stating that Kelly introduces bill addressing Tesla, electric vehicle door releases and emphasizing how current layouts can confuse occupants in emergencies. In that same release, Kelly ties the proposal to concerns that hidden or power dependent latches may slow escapes when seconds matter. The SAFE Exit Act, which is also endorsed by Cons according to her office, would require that manual releases be clearly labeled and operable without any electronic assistance, a direct rebuke to designs that tuck emergency levers low on the door card or behind trim.
From Model 3 probes to Cybertruck scrutiny
Federal regulators have already been circling this issue, particularly around Tesla’s sedan lineup, and that scrutiny is now bleeding into the Cybertruck era. The auto safety regulator opened a probe into the emergency releases in certain Model 3 vehicles after reports that occupants struggled to exit when power was lost, a concern that has now been cited as context for the new bill targeting handles popularized by Tesla Inc. Those Model 3 cars rely on electronic buttons for normal operation, with mechanical pulls positioned separately, a layout that critics say is not obvious under stress.
The new legislation is the first clear sign that Congress is prepared to write those concerns into statute, not just leave them to regulators and recalls. A bill introduced late Tuesday in Jan has been described as the first indication that safety risks posed by electrically powered vehicle doors could trigger a redesign of door handles across the industry, with particular focus on Tesla’s approach, according to new US automotive safety bill coverage. That reporting notes that it is still unclear how much support the effort has with other lawmakers and whether the measure will ultimately be signed into law, but the signal to automakers is unmistakable.
What the bill would require and how automakers may respond
At the core of the proposal is a mandate that every new car, including battery powered models, include a straightforward, mechanical way to open each door from inside and out. A summary of the measure describes a U.S. Congressional bill that would require the National Highway and Traffic Safety Admi to write rules ensuring that manual releases are easy to locate and operate, a shift that would affect both traditional handles and hidden levers in EVs, as detailed in coverage By Teresa Moss. The same reporting underscores that the goal is not to ban innovation but to guarantee that when power fails, occupants and rescuers are not left guessing.
Another detailed account of the measure notes that a US Lawmaker Readies Bill Requiring Manual Door Handles in Cars and that the proposal would apply to new vehicles when power is lost, language that would cover both conventional sedans and advanced pickups like the Cybertruck, according to Lawmaker Readies Bill Requiring Manual Door Handles. A separate briefing on the same initiative, labeled Takeaways by Bloomberg AI, reiterates that the law would require manual door releases in new cars and highlights how the rule would standardize escape options across brands, as summarized in Takeaways. Together, these descriptions paint a picture of a relatively narrow but consequential mandate that could force redesigns of flush handles and interior switches.
Cybertruck and the politics of being first in the crosshairs
Although the bill is written to cover all automakers, Tesla’s high profile designs and the arrival of the Cybertruck have made it the de facto test case. One report on the SAFE Exit Act notes that Her bill, formally titled the Securing Accessible Functional Emergency Exit Act, or SAFE, would require manual releases that are clearly marked and accessible, and that it arrives as federal officials are also examining Tesla’s Full Self Driving system for potential defects, according to a detailed Statesman account. Another piece on the same theme frames the initiative as part of a broader pattern in which Tesla door design is targeted by new US automotive safety bill efforts, while also stressing that it is not yet clear how much support the measure will attract in Congress, as described in Jan coverage. For Tesla, which has marketed its flush handles and button based releases as part of a minimalist, high tech aesthetic, the optics of being singled out could be as significant as the engineering changes.
So far, Tesla has kept its distance from the debate. In Texas, Tesla did not respond to a request for comment on the proposed legislation, even as local critics cited cases where drivers struggled with power dependent handles when vehicles lost electricity, according to In Texas reporting. Another summary of the federal push notes that a US lawmaker unveils bill requiring manual car door releases and explicitly links it to handles popularized by Tesla Inc, underscoring how one company’s design language has become a national policy flashpoint, as described in a Jan brief that also references the earlier Model 3 probe. Whether or not the SAFE Exit Act passes in its current form, the message to Tesla and every other EV maker is clear: futuristic exteriors and touch sensitive controls will now be judged against the most basic test of all, how quickly someone can pull a handle and get out.
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