China bans hidden car door handles

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China will ban hidden door handles on cars from next year over safety concerns, phasing out the minimalist design popularized by Tesla.

The new rules could prompt carmakers globally to rethink vehicle-door designs as China increasingly positions itself as a standards-setter in the rapidly expanding international electric vehicle (EV) market, according to analysts.

The rules, announced by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on Monday will take effect from 1 January 2027, and require door handles to have both interior and exterior mechanical releases.

Chinese car models already approved for launch will have an additional two years to achieve compliance, the ministry said.

The new regulations will apply to all vehicles but will mostly impact EVs, which are commonly designed with hidden handles, and will “improve the level of automotive safety design,” the ministry added.

Safety concerns have risen in China recently over sleek, aerodynamic car doors that reduce drag but are prone to losing operability in the event of a crash.

One high-profile incident occurred in October, when rescuers were shown failing to open the doors of a burning Xiaomi electric vehicle in the southwestern city of Chengdu.

The driver, reported to be under the influence of alcohol, died in the crash.

Electronic or “flush” door handles were introduced with Tesla’s 2012 launch of the Model S, later becoming popular with Chinese EV brands prioritizing high-tech features.