China is preparing to ban hidden car door handles, a design trend made popular by Tesla and widely adopted across the electric vehicle industry. The move reflects growing safety concerns among regulators who believe that sleek, flush door handles may put passengers at risk during emergencies.
Hidden or electronically operated door handles are common in modern electric cars. They are designed to improve aerodynamics and give vehicles a futuristic appearance. However, Chinese authorities have raised concerns that these systems can fail during accidents, fires or power outages, making it difficult for passengers to escape or for rescuers to open doors quickly.
Under the new rules proposed by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, vehicles sold in the country will be required to have door handles that are clearly visible and mechanically operable. Electronic or retractable handles will still be allowed, but only if a manual backup mechanism is present and easy to use even when the vehicle loses power.
The decision follows reports of accidents involving electric vehicles where doors could not be opened due to electrical failure.
Regulators argue that in high stress situations, passengers should not have to search for hidden releases or rely on electronic systems to exit a vehicle. A simple mechanical handle, they say, can save crucial seconds and lives.
Tesla is often mentioned in discussions around the ban because it helped popularise flush door handles as part of its minimalist design philosophy. Many Chinese and global carmakers followed suit, especially in the competitive electric vehicle market where futuristic styling plays a major role in attracting buyers. As a result, the new rules will affect a wide range of manufacturers operating in China.
The regulation is expected to apply to new vehicle models from 2027, with a transition period for existing models already on the market. Automakers will need to redesign door systems to comply, potentially increasing costs but also improving safety standards.
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