US EditionChina Bans Hidden Car Door Handles over Safety Concerns
China's ban on hidden electronic door handles on EVs follows fatal incidents and safety concerns, affecting 60% of top-selling models with compliance required by 2029, officials said.
- 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.
189 Articles
189 Articles
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…
Starting next year, China will ban hidden door handles in electric cars.
In China, many manufacturers have long been offering Tesla's famous technology of door handles disappearing in the car. But the government is now prohibiting it. Why? And what does that mean for the manufacturers?
China: No More Hidden Handles on Car Doors
China will ban hidden door handles on cars, commonly used on Tesla's electric vehicles and many other EV models, starting next year. All car doors must include a mechanical release function for handles, except for the tailgate, according to details released by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on...
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