Lawmakers are drafting regulations around electric door latches after safety concerns surfaced, but the legislation reads like political theater with one manufacturer taking the heat. The issue: failed actuators leaving occupants trapped, a problem that's been festering in luxury cabins for years. One brand's design choices made them the poster child for what happens when you prioritize minimalism over redundancy.

The House introduced the SAFE Exit Act, explicitly targeting Tesla's frameless electric door handles after a string of emergency egress failures. The bill mandates traditional mechanical backup systems on all EVs. This isn't about being anti-EV—it's about design choices that prioritize aesthetics over actual human survival.