China Bans Hidden Car Door Handles Citing Safety Risks
As of January 1, 2027, China will ban flush-mounted, hidden door handles on all new vehicles sold within the country. This regulatory change, driven by safety concerns and operational difficulties, requires all cars to feature easily accessible mechanical release mechanisms for both interior and exterior door handles. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology cited the inability to open handles after an accident and general inconvenience as key reasons for the new policy, which aims to ensure that handles are operable from any angle and clearly visible to occupants. This move, while not targeting any specific manufacturer, significantly impacts companies like Tesla, which popularized the feature, as well as other Chinese EV makers who have adopted similar designs.
John Q. Hosedrinker