Good Touch, Bad Touch

Why cars need real door handles and fewer touchscreens

Back in 2012, Tesla made a fancy new kind of car door handle for its Model S. These handles stayed hidden inside the door and popped out only when needed. They looked cool, and Tesla said they also helped the car move more smoothly through the air. Soon, other car companies — including some in India — copied the idea.

But now, in 2026, this kind of handle is finally being banned in China, the world’s biggest car market. The ban will start next January because these handles have caused serious safety problems. Tesla sells almost 40% of its cars in China, so it will have to change the design everywhere. Even the US is now checking complaints about these handles.

And honestly, it’s about time. Many people have gotten stuck inside cars with these “smart” handles, especially during emergencies.

• Last year, a man in China died inside his burning Xiaomi SU7 Ultra because he couldn’t get out.
• In 2019, a doctor in Florida died in his Tesla Model S for the same reason.
• In 2023, a couple in Virginia got trapped inside their burning Tesla Model Y. The wife suffered serious burns and lung damage before rescuers got her out.

So what’s the point of a cool-looking handle if it fails when you need it most? It shouldn’t have taken 14 years to fix this.

Now that China has taken action, India should also step up — this time by reducing the number of touchscreens in car dashboards. Touchscreens look modern, but they distract drivers. A UK study found that using a touchscreen while driving is four times more dangerous than driving at the legal alcohol limit.

Safety experts in Europe and Australia (Euro NCAP and ANCAP) already say that cars need physical buttons and dials to earn top safety ratings. India can also push carmakers to follow these rules.

In short: real handles and real buttons can save lives. It’s time to bring them back.

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