China will prohibit the use of hidden or flush door handles on cars sold in the country starting next year, marking a shift away from the minimalist design popularised by Tesla amid growing safety concerns.
New regulations issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) will come into force on January 1, 2027. Under the rules, vehicle doors must be equipped with both interior and exterior mechanical release mechanisms, ensuring access even if electronic systems fail.
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Car models that have already received approval for launch will be given an additional two years to comply with the requirements. The ministry said the move is aimed at “improving the level of automotive safety design” across the industry.
The decision follows heightened scrutiny of sleek, aerodynamic door designs that prioritise efficiency but can become inoperable after a crash. Concerns intensified after a high-profile incident in October, when rescuers were reportedly unable to open the doors of a burning Xiaomi electric vehicle following an accident in Chengdu, in southwestern China.
According to the new standards, all doors, excluding the tailgate, must feature a mechanical exterior door handle. The regulations also address interior handle visibility, requiring permanent graphic markings to make emergency releases easier to identify, the ministry added.
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China is the world’s largest electric vehicle market, and its rapidly expanding domestic brands are increasingly selling cars overseas. Safety standards adopted at home often influence vehicle design choices globally. Industry data released last month showed that BYD overtook Tesla in global EV sales last year, becoming the world’s largest electric vehicle maker by volume for the first time.
Flush and electronic door handles entered the mainstream EV market with Tesla’s launch of the Model S. Integrated into the bodywork, the design offers a modest aerodynamic benefit by reducing drag. However, regulators now appear to be prioritising mechanical reliability over marginal efficiency gains.
