US House Moves Forward with Auto Safety Bill Focused on Electric Door Regulations
US lawmakers have taken a significant step towards enhancing automotive safety by advancing a bill that mandates manual releases in new vehicles equipped with electrically powered door handles. This legislation could notably affect designs popularized by Tesla Inc.
The Securing Accessible Functional Emergency Exit Act, commonly referred to as the SAFE Exit Act, was forwarded to the full committee during a markup session held by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on Tuesday. While this is a positive development, the bill still faces several legislative hurdles before it can potentially be signed into law.
Introduced last month by Representative Robin Kelly, a Democrat from Illinois, the bill aims to tackle safety concerns that have arisen from numerous incidents where individuals were injured or even lost their lives after becoming trapped inside vehicles with malfunctioning electric handles.
Bloomberg News has conducted extensive reporting on modern door systems, revealing an investigation that identified at least 15 fatalities across a dozen incidents where occupants or rescuers were unable to open the doors of a Tesla involved in crashes that resulted in fires. In response, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) initiated an investigation in September to determine if the doors in certain Tesla Model Y SUVs are defective. Additionally, in December, a probe was launched into the emergency release mechanisms in Tesla Model 3 vehicles.
“People are dying right now,” stated Michigan Representative Debbie Dingell during the House session on Tuesday. “As more vehicles rely on electronic door latches, we must ensure there’s always a clear manual backup when these systems fail.”
The proposed legislation would require that cars equipped with electric door systems include a clearly labeled and easily accessible mechanical latch that is intuitive for users. Furthermore, it stipulates that there must be a method for first responders to access vehicles that have lost battery power.
Representative Kelly has expressed concerns that the US is lagging behind other regions, particularly China and the European Union, in terms of door safety regulations. Notably, China has recently enacted a law banning concealed door handles, marking it as the first country to outlaw this design.
Florida Congressman Gus Bilirakis has voiced his support for the intent behind the legislation but emphasized the need for safety experts to conduct research that would establish smart and flexible standards, thereby avoiding any unintended consequences.
Photo: Tesla was a pioneer of electrically controlled doors and flush handles. Photographer: Travis Dove/Bloomberg
Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.
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US lawmakers have taken a significant step towards enhancing automotive safety by advancing a bill that mandates manual releases in new vehicles equipped with electrically powered door handles. This legislation could notably affect designs popularized by Tesla Inc.
The Securing Accessible Functional Emergency Exit Act, commonly referred to as the SAFE Exit Act, was forwarded to the full committee during a markup session held by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on Tuesday. While this is a positive development, the bill still faces several legislative hurdles before it can potentially be signed into law.
Introduced last month by Representative Robin Kelly, a Democrat from Illinois, the bill aims to tackle safety concerns that have arisen from numerous incidents where individuals were injured or even lost their lives after becoming trapped inside vehicles with malfunctioning electric handles.
Bloomberg News has conducted extensive reporting on modern door systems, revealing an investigation that identified at least 15 fatalities across a dozen incidents where occupants or rescuers were unable to open the doors of a Tesla involved in crashes that resulted in fires. In response, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) initiated an investigation in September to determine if the doors in certain Tesla Model Y SUVs are defective. Additionally, in December, a probe was launched into the emergency release mechanisms in Tesla Model 3 vehicles.
“People are dying right now,” stated Michigan Representative Debbie Dingell during the House session on Tuesday. “As more vehicles rely on electronic door latches, we must ensure there’s always a clear manual backup when these systems fail.”
The proposed legislation would require that cars equipped with electric door systems include a clearly labeled and easily accessible mechanical latch that is intuitive for users. Furthermore, it stipulates that there must be a method for first responders to access vehicles that have lost battery power.
Representative Kelly has expressed concerns that the US is lagging behind other regions, particularly China and the European Union, in terms of door safety regulations. Notably, China has recently enacted a law banning concealed door handles, marking it as the first country to outlaw this design.
Florida Congressman Gus Bilirakis has voiced his support for the intent behind the legislation but emphasized the need for safety experts to conduct research that would establish smart and flexible standards, thereby avoiding any unintended consequences.
Photo: Tesla was a pioneer of electrically controlled doors and flush handles. Photographer: Travis Dove/Bloomberg
Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.
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