China to ban hidden car door handles from 2027 over safety concerns

From 1 January 2027, China will prohibit the use of fully hidden electronic door handles on all new vehicles, citing critical safety concerns following multiple fatal accidents.

According to a statement released on 2 February by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the new mandatory standard, titled Safety Technical Requirements for Automotive Door Handles, will require both internal and external door handles to have mechanical release functions.

The regulation will apply to all newly approved car models from the enforcement date, while existing certified models will be granted an extension until 1 July 2028 to comply.

The MIIT stated the decision aims to “improve the level of automotive safety design” and address failures of concealed handles in emergency scenarios such as electrical system shutdowns or structural deformation caused by crashes.

One catalyst for the policy shift was a high-profile incident in Chengdu in October 2024, when a Xiaomi SU7 Ultra electric vehicle caught fire after a crash. Emergency responders were unable to open the vehicle’s doors, and the driver, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, died inside the burning car.

Additional fatal accidents involving the same vehicle model, including one in Tongling, Anhui Province, have been reported in local media. In both cases, flush door handle systems reportedly failed or were inaccessible post-impact, obstructing timely rescue.

Investigations revealed that Xiaomi’s button-based door opening mechanism required electrical power to function, while internal mechanical overrides were difficult to locate, especially after damage or power loss.

These cases added urgency to a policy already under review since September 2025. At that time, the MIIT initiated a public consultation and held discussions on the feasibility of mandating mechanical redundancy for all door handles.

The new regulations specifically require that “all doors except the tailgate shall be equipped with a mechanical release exterior door handle.” Further provisions include permanent graphic indicators to improve visibility of interior handles.

The rules apply to all passenger vehicles weighing under 3.5 tonnes, the vast majority of which are EVs or hybrids in the Chinese market.

China’s regulatory move marks the first such legislation globally targeting flush, embedded, or electronic-only door handle designs. These features, first introduced by Tesla with the 2012 Model S, became a hallmark of electric vehicle (EV) design by offering slight aerodynamic advantages—reducing drag coefficients and marginally improving energy efficiency.

However, industry estimates suggest the efficiency gains are minimal. According to prior testing, flush handles reduce drag coefficients by 0.005 to 0.01, saving around 0.6 kWh per 100 km—insufficient to justify safety trade-offs, according to regulators.

With the new standard now formally adopted, foreign and domestic carmakers will need to re-engineer affected models. This includes Tesla, Rivian, Mercedes-Benz, and Range Rover, all of which have integrated such designs in vehicles sold in China.

Chinese manufacturers are already responding. AITO (Wenjie) has revised its M7 model to feature partially exposed handles, while Zeekr has returned to visible external handles in the 9X series.

Given China’s status as the world’s largest EV market and now the leading global vehicle exporter, the policy is expected to reshape international design trends.

Western automakers may face pressure to standardise door handle designs globally to reduce production complexity and meet compliance for Chinese exports.

The MIIT’s approach contrasts with other global regulators, who have not yet addressed hidden handles through specific legislation, despite increasing concerns over post-collision safety.

Industry observers expect additional jurisdictions to study China’s move closely as EV safety remains a priority in crash survivability and emergency response planning.