Tesla changes door handle design after US investigation

Tesla is updating the design of its door handles after a new investigation in the US into cases where passengers could be trapped inside the car, The Verge reports.

Tesla chief designer Franz von Holzhausen said the company is aiming to make the handles more intuitive for passengers in a "state of panic." The new design will include combining the electronic and manual door opening mechanisms into a single button. In the current design, the buttons are located in different places.

The changes to Tesla's door handle design are related to an investigation that began this week. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is looking into cases where car doors cannot be opened from the outside using handles located at body level.

Additionally, the updates could be related to new regulations in China, where the country's government is considering banning completely concealed door handles.