US EditionChina Bans Hidden Car Door Handles over Safety Concerns
- On Monday, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology banned concealed door handles and mandated mechanical releases for cars sold in China, effective Jan. 1, 2027, with a compliance deadline of Jan. 1, 2029 for approved models.
- After several high-profile crashes, a string of fatal incidents in China, including Xiaomi SU7 electric sedan cases, and Bloomberg and U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration probes highlighted trapped occupants and emergency-access problems.
- The new rules specify exterior recessed space of 6 centimeters by 2 centimeters , interior signage at least 1cm by 0.7cm, and mechanical release on passenger doors except tailgate.
- Automakers face costly redesigns estimated at more than 100 million yuan per model, affecting Tesla's Model Y and Model 3, BMW iX3, Xiaomi YU7, while some models revert to exposed handles.
- By moving first, Beijing positions China as a regulator whose standards other jurisdictions and global regulators may adopt, though experts warn redesigns will favor higher-margin luxury models and risk stifling innovation.
208 Articles
208 Articles
A decision focused on public security is about to radically change the car design in China, leading to an aesthetic trend that, despite popular, has become fatal in emergency situations. The measure...
China becomes first country to ban hidden car door handles · TechNode
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has recently jointly released the Safety Technical Requirements for Automobile Door Handles. The regulation mandates that all vehicles sold in China, except for tailgates, must be equipped with mechanical exterior door handles and interior door handles. Even if the vehicle is locked due to an accident or power failure, the doors must still be able to be opened manually. This requirem…
Hidden, electronically operated car handles will be banned from January 1, 2027. China's decision can be attributed to safety reasons.
China bans hidden EV door handles in world first
China banned concealed door handles on EVs over safety concerns, the first ruling of its kind in the world. The crackdown targets a design that was popularized by Tesla and has faced scrutiny after a series of high-profile incidents in which people were unable to open car doors following crashes. It’s the latest setback for Tesla in China; Elon Musk’s EV giant saw its first year of declining sales there in 2025 as competition intensified, and he…
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