H.R. 6947 would amend title 49 to require every new motor vehicle to include a manual door release that works without electrical power for occupant egress. It directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue a final rule amending Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 206 within two years to establish performance and labeling requirements for those releases and to ensure emergency responder access when power is lost.
The bill defines key terms and adds the new provision to the table of sections in subchapter II of chapter 301.
At a Glance
What It Does
Adds a new §30130 requiring a power-independent manual door release for each door and a means for emergency responders to access the occupant compartment when electrical power is lost; directs a revised FMVSS 206 rule with implementation timelines.
Who It Affects
Automakers and their suppliers designing new vehicles; the federal regulator (NHTSA) implementing FMVSS 206; emergency responders who may need access to occupants during power outages.
Why It Matters
It closes a safety gap where occupants could be trapped if electrical systems fail, and it standardizes a mechanism and terminology for door release across new vehicles.
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What This Bill Actually Does
The bill requires new motor vehicles to include a manual door release that can be used without electrical power, ensuring occupants can exit in a power failure. It tasks the Secretary of Transportation with issuing a final rule that updates FMVSS 206 to set performance and labeling requirements for these releases and to guarantee a means for emergency responders to access the passenger compartment when power is out.
The revised rule must be issued within two years, and the vehicles must comply with the new standard within two years after the rule is issued. The bill also defines what constitutes an electronic door latch, a manual release, and Standard 206, and it adds the new section to the federal code’s table of sections.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The bill adds a new Section 30130 to require a manual door release on each door.
A power-independent release must be intuitive and readily accessible for occupants.
There must be a mechanism to allow emergency responders access when vehicle power is lost.
A final rule updating FMVSS 206 must be issued within two years of enactment.
Compliance with the updated standard is due within two years after the final rule is issued.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
Every bill we cover gets an analysis of its key sections.
Manual door release obligation
Adds new Section 30130 to Subchapter II of Chapter 301, requiring a power-independent manual release for each door to facilitate occupant egress even when the vehicle’s electrical system fails. The section also requires a means for emergency responders to access the occupant compartment when power is lost. This creates a baseline safety mechanism tied to an updated FMVSS 206 standard.
Rulemaking timeline
directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue a final rule amending Standard 206 within not later than two years after enactment, establishing the performance and labeling criteria for the manual release system and related components.
Definitions
Defines 'electronic door latch' as a latch relying on electrical power for release or securement, 'manual release' as a mechanical device disengaging the door latch without electrical power, and clarifies that 'Standard 206' refers to FMVSS 206 detailed in 49 CFR 571.206.
Clerical amendment
Amends the table of sections for subchapter II of chapter 301 to add Sec. 30130, Manual door release, ensuring cross-reference within the United States Code.
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Explore Transportation in Codify Search →Who Benefits and Who Bears the Cost
Every bill creates winners and losers. Here's who stands to gain and who bears the cost.
Who Benefits
- Vehicle occupants (drivers and passengers) in new motor vehicles gain a power-independent exit option that remains usable during electrical outages.
- Emergency responders gain a reliable access point to the occupant compartment when vehicle power is unavailable.
- Automakers and component suppliers gain a clear federal mandate and consolidated design goal that aligns product development with updated safety standards.
- NHTSA and federal regulators benefit from a defined timeline and measurable standard for FMVSS 206 updates.
Who Bears the Cost
- Automakers and door-latch suppliers will incur design, testing, and potential retooling costs to implement the manual release and labeling requirements.
- Regulatory agencies may incur costs related to rulemaking, testing, and certification oversight.
- New-vehicle buyers may face higher upfront vehicle costs due to compliance with the new features and labeling.
- Small-volume manufacturers could face greater relative burden due to compliance and testing requirements.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
The central dilemma is balancing immediate occupant safety through a guaranteed manual exit with the practical realities of updating a nationwide safety standard, redesigning door systems, and ensuring universal usability without imposing prohibitive costs on manufacturers.
The bill creates a safety mechanism aimed at ensuring exit even if power fails, but it also introduces an array of implementation questions and trade-offs. Key challenges include how to test and validate the intuitiveness and reliability of the manual release across all door configurations, how to ensure emergency responder access is practical in real-world scenarios, and how the changes interact with existing door-latch technologies and safety features.
The timeline—requiring a final FMVSS 206 update within two years of enactment and a two-year compliance window after the rule—places the onus on the regulator to balance rigorous testing with timely industry adaptation. There is also the question of labeling, maintenance, and potential impacts on door design, weight, and manufacturing cost, which will need to be weighed as automakers implement the standard.
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