China bans hidden car door handles
Strict new regulations will see flush or hidden door handles banned from 2027 amid safety concernsThe News
China has officially announced a ban on flush and power-operated car door handles, with strict measures set to be enforced from 2027 affecting both interior and exterior handles on new cars, following a proposal put forward by the country’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) last September.
The Key Details
- China will ban flush exterior and hidden interior door handles
- New regulation comes into effect January 1 2027 for all passenger and light commercial vehicles
- Emergency mechanical releases for both interior and exterior door handles will be mandatory
- Brands using the tech include BYD, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Tesla, MG, Zeekr, Chery, Deepal, Leapmotor, Zeekr, Volvo, Land Rover and more
The Finer Details
China will be the first country in the world to enforce the strict new standards on vehicles sold in its country, which targets electrically operated and flush door handles made popular in recent years.
No such regulations currently exist in any other country, despite the Australian government exclusively revealing to carsales in September a United Nations-led safety review could reshape local – and likely European – regulations relating to the same tech.
Popularised by electric vehicles in recent years, flush or concealed exterior door handles that retract into the bodywork for both aesthetic and aerodynamic efficiency are thought to have prevented emergency services and first responders from accessing trapped vehicle occupants in a string of fatalities in recent years.
A high-profile crash in China involving a Xiaomi SU7 in 2025 is one of many tragic incidents thought to be related.
The accident, which resulted in the death of three university students, prompted auto regulators in China to investigate the use of semi-autonomous driving aids, as well as powered doors.
The new standards mean exterior handles must meet certain performance criteria, such as the inclusion of independent mechanical linkages capable of withstanding certain forces.
Inside, power-operated door handles found on several vehicles, including Teslas, will also require emergency manual release mechanisms that meet certain requirements, including placement, force required to operate, and either written or pictorial instructions nearby.
All car doors except the boot or tailgate will be required to meet the new mandatory standards.
The Road Ahead
The Chinese automotive industry will see phased implementation of the new door handle requirements, with new vehicles already approved for launch given a two-year period to achieve compliance.
The changes are all but certain to hit Australia, with China now the second largest source of new vehicles ahead of Japan.
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