Tesla

One thing I have learned from covering electric vehicles for years is that not everything on your car needs to be reinvented in some supposedly futuristic way. 

Call me old-fashioned, but I still like having some physical buttons instead of every control being routed through a big screen. And those electronic charging port doors? Come on. A little flap works just fine. There’s no need to add unnecessary failure points. 

But arguably the worst offender has been the flush, hidden and electronic door handles that Tesla pioneered and quickly spread throughout the industry. They supposedly offer benefits for aerodynamics and range, and mechanical simplicity to reduce costs. In reality, however, they’ve become a persistent safety issue, often preventing passengers (and first responders) from getting in and out of a car during an emergency.

On this week’s Plugged-In Podcast, we’re discussing how China is issuing the biggest crackdown on those door handles yet—and why the rest of the world is likely to follow suit soon enough. 

I’m no great fan of these door handles, either. My Kia EV6 has them and they’re irritating to operate when it’s very cold outside, or when you’re wearing gloves. (Thankfully, newer EV6s have handles that automatically pop out when the car is unlocked.)

But this design choice isn’t just annoying. It’s also becoming more and more of a safety concern. As Bloomberg has extensively reported, Tesla’s door handles alone have been tied to at least 15 deaths. And now China is banning them outright, starting in 2029, after a number of similarly terrifying fatal incidents. Is this the end of door handles that have been a hallmark on many EVs? It sure looks that way.

And speaking of China: my co-host Tim Levin and I also address the curious but persistent rumors that Ford may partner with an automaker from that country. First, reports indicated Ford was talking to Xiaomi about a U.S.-centric joint venture, which both companies swiftly denied. Then, more news emerged saying Ford may also be talking to Geely, the Chinese owner of Volvo and Polestar.

For now, Ford isn’t saying one way or another. But could this turn into something more as American automakers perhaps find ways to join with China’s advanced auto companies, rather than try and beat them? We’ll see, but the incursion of Chinese EVs into North America will surely be one of the biggest stories to watch this year. 

Check out the show wherever you get podcasts (find your preferred platform here). Thanks as always for tuning in.

Contact the author: patrick.george@insideevs.com.