NHTSA to Develop Federal Rules for Electronic Door Handles After Tesla Incidents

NHTSA announced July 23, 2026 it will begin developing federal safety requirements for vehicle egress — how occupants exit a car. The action follows incidents, some fatal, involving people trapped inside vehicles with flush, electronically operated door handles like those on Teslas. NHTSA noted that initiating rulemaking does not guarantee final rules will be adopted.