Core Viewpoint - US lawmakers are advancing the SAFE Exit Act, which mandates manual releases for vehicles with electrically powered door handles, potentially affecting designs popularized by Tesla Inc. [1] Group 1: Legislative Progress - The SAFE Exit Act has been forwarded to the full committee by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce during a markup session, but it still faces several legislative hurdles before it can become law [2]. - The bill was introduced by Representative Robin Kelly, aiming to enhance vehicle safety following incidents where individuals were trapped in vehicles with malfunctioning electric door handles [3]. Group 2: Safety Concerns - Reports indicate at least 15 fatalities in incidents where occupants or rescuers were unable to open Tesla doors during emergencies, prompting investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into potential defects in Tesla Model Y and Model 3 vehicles [4]. - Representative Debbie Dingell emphasized the urgency of the issue, stating that as vehicles increasingly rely on electronic door latches, a manual backup must be available to prevent fatalities [5]. Group 3: Comparative Legislation - Kelly highlighted that the US is lagging behind China and the European Union in door safety regulations, noting that China has banned concealed door handles [6]. - Congressman Gus Bilirakis expressed support for the bill's intent but suggested that safety experts should be allowed to conduct research to establish flexible standards, avoiding unintended consequences [6].

Core Insights - Tesla, Inc. is facing scrutiny from the U.S. auto safety regulator due to a defect investigation into Model 3 vehicles, focusing on the accessibility of emergency door release controls [1][2] Group 1: Investigation Details - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated a probe covering approximately 179,071 Model 3 vehicles from the 2022 model year, following a defect petition that claims the mechanical door release is concealed and not intuitive to locate during emergencies [2][9] - The investigation was launched on December 23, indicating regulatory concern over the safety of the vehicle's door release mechanism [2] Group 2: Safety Concerns - Tesla primarily utilizes electronic door latches that operate via buttons, which safety experts have criticized for not being consistently visible or clearly labeled, particularly for rear-seat passengers [3] - Although manual door releases are available for emergencies, their visibility and accessibility have been questioned, raising safety concerns [3] Group 3: Previous Investigations - This investigation marks the second probe into Tesla's door handles in 2023, with a previous investigation into the 2021 Model Y SUV affecting around 174,000 vehicles due to reports of parents being unable to open the electric doors to rescue their children [5][9] - In some instances, parents resorted to breaking vehicle windows to reach their children, highlighting the urgency of the safety issue [5] Group 4: Company Ranking and Comparisons - Tesla currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), while competitors such as General Motors, OPENLANE, and Garrett Motion have higher rankings of 1 (Strong Buy) [6] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for General Motors' 2025 and 2026 EPS has seen improvements of 8 cents and 47 cents, respectively, over the past 30 days [6]

Chinese carmaker Geely has opened the world’s biggest automotive safety testing center, underscoring the country’s push to play a greater role in setting global standards — particularly for electric cars https://t.co/istHjgJGPc ...

Core Insights - Hyundai Motor Group has reinforced its status as a global leader in automotive safety, with multiple models receiving top safety ratings from the IIHS [1][10]. Group 1: Safety Ratings Achievements - The 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 and 2026 Kia Sportage have earned the 2025 TOP SAFETY PICK+ (TSP+) rating, while the 2026 Hyundai SANTA CRUZ received a 2025 TOP SAFETY PICK (TSP) rating [1][2]. - Both the IONIQ 9 and Sportage achieved "Good" ratings across all IIHS evaluation categories, including front and side crash protection and forward collision prevention [2][3]. - Hyundai Motor Group has a total of 18 models awarded TSP+ or TSP ratings in 2025, comprising nine Hyundai, five Genesis, and four Kia models [4]. Group 2: Brand Performance - Hyundai ranks first among mainstream brands, with Kia in sixth place, while Genesis leads the premium brand category and ranks third overall across all evaluated brands [5]. Group 3: Recent Model Ratings - Earlier in 2025, several Hyundai models, including IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, KONA, TUCSON, and others, received TSP+ ratings, along with Genesis and Kia models [6]. Group 4: IIHS Evaluation Standards - The IIHS has implemented stricter safety standards for 2025, requiring vehicles to achieve "Good" ratings in new rear-passenger safety evaluations to qualify for TSP+ [7][8]. - Vehicles must also achieve "Good" ratings in small overlap front and updated side crash tests, and at least "Acceptable" ratings in daytime and nighttime vehicle-to-pedestrian forward collision prevention evaluations [9].

Core Points - Tesla Inc. shares experienced a 2% decline on Friday, reversing the gains made in the previous session [1] - The decline was influenced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) seeking information regarding Tesla's new driver-assistance technology [1] Company Summary - Tesla's stock performance showed volatility, with a notable drop following a period of gains [1] - The inquiry from NHTSA indicates regulatory scrutiny on Tesla's driver-assistance features, which could impact investor sentiment [1]

Core Viewpoint - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating Tesla regarding safety concerns related to Model Y doors not opening during power outages, which raises significant safety issues for owners, especially those with children [1][2][3]. Investigation Details - The investigation was prompted by incidents where Tesla owners, including a case involving a child trapped in a vehicle, experienced issues with doors not opening when the battery is depleted [2]. - Tesla has acknowledged in its manuals that doors cannot be opened from the outside if the vehicle loses power, highlighting a critical safety concern [2]. Potential Impact on Tesla - The outcome of the investigation could lead to costly implications for Tesla, particularly if it results in a recall that requires physical modifications to vehicles rather than being resolved through software updates [4]. - Historically, defect investigations do not typically lead to immediate market reactions, as they can take a long time to resolve [3].

Group 1: Tesla's Safety Probe - Tesla Inc. is under investigation by US auto safety regulators regarding issues with door handles on certain Model Y vehicles that may trap occupants during emergencies [1][3] - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated a preliminary evaluation focusing on the electronic door locks of specific Model Y vehicles from the 2021 model year [3][4] - A Bloomberg investigation highlighted incidents where passengers were injured or died due to being unable to open doors when power was lost, particularly after crashes [2][5] Group 2: Defect Complaints - Since 2018, over 140 defect complaints related to Tesla's door handles have been recorded in the NHTSA database, including cases of young children being trapped inside vehicles [6] Group 3: Tesla's Expansion in India - Tesla officially entered the Indian market on July 15, 2025, launching its first store in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex [7] - The company plans to start selling its Model Y SUVs in India, with intentions to expand its offerings as sales grow [7]

Core Viewpoint - A Miami jury found Tesla partially responsible for a fatal crash involving its Autopilot technology, ordering the company to pay over $200 million in punitive damages to the victims [1]. Group 1: Legal Outcome - The jury determined that Tesla's technology failed, attributing significant responsibility to the company rather than solely to the distracted driver [1]. - This verdict concludes a four-year legal battle, which is notable as many similar cases against Tesla have either been dismissed or settled out of court [4][11]. - The case included allegations that Tesla concealed or lost critical evidence, which was later uncovered by a forensic data expert [5][7]. Group 2: Company Response - Tesla's legal team criticized the verdict, claiming it undermines automotive safety and jeopardizes the development of life-saving technology, and announced plans to appeal the decision [8][15]. - The company has faced scrutiny for its handling of data in previous crash cases, which it has denied [6]. Group 3: Public Perception and Trust - The verdict raises questions about Tesla's reputation for safety, especially as the company aims to promote its vehicles as safe for autonomous driving [2][9]. - The plaintiffs argued that Tesla's use of the term "Autopilot" misleads consumers about the capabilities of the technology, which does not equate to full self-driving [10][12]. - The case highlighted concerns about Tesla allowing drivers to misuse the Autopilot system, particularly on roads for which it was not designed [14].