China has announced that it will outlaw hidden or “flush” car door handles on electric vehicles (EVs) sold in the country, in a bold and unprecedented shift in automotive safety regulation that is expected to reshape vehicle design and influence global standards. The decision, outlined by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, responds to mounting safety concerns after a series of high-profile accidents where concealed door mechanisms left occupants trapped or rescuers unable to open vehicle doors at crash scenes.
Under the new national safety standard, which will take effect from January 1, 2027, all passenger vehicles – particularly EVs that have embraced minimalist, aerodynamically optimized designs – must be equipped with door handles that are clearly visible and that include mechanical release functions both from the exterior and interior of the car. The regulation stipulates that only tailgates may be exempted from this requirement, with every other door required to have a handle that can be physically operated even in the absence of electrical power.
The rule aims to address a key safety flaw in many modern EVs: hidden or electronically actuated door handles, popularised by US automaker Tesla and since widely adopted by both international and domestic brands, can become inoperable when a vehicle’s electrical system fails after a collision or fire. In such circumstances, bystanders and emergency responders have sometimes been unable to open doors manually, prolonging entrapment and potentially contributing to fatalities. A widely reported crash in October in the southwestern city of Chengdu involving a Xiaomi SU7 electric sedan highlighted this risk when rescuers struggled to open the vehicle’s doors during a fire.
New cars submitted for approval after January 2027 must comply immediately, while vehicles that have already received regulatory approval before that date will be granted a two-year transition period to revise designs and meet the updated standards by January 1, 2029. This transition window recognises the development cycles of automakers and gives manufacturers time to reengineer or retrofit models with compliant, mechanically operable handles.
Industry analysts say China’s move makes it the first country in the world to explicitly ban hidden door handles through a national automotive safety standard, a step that could prompt similar action in other markets where regulators are increasingly scrutinising EV safety features. Experts note that in regions such as the United States and Europe, safety agencies have already opened investigations into retractable and electronic door handle systems due to concerns about reliability during emergencies.
The impetus for the regulation stems from China’s broader effort to raise the baseline safety of the rapidly growing EV fleet in the world’s largest automotive market. Hidden door handles were originally designed to reduce aerodynamic drag and enhance vehicle aesthetics, offering a slight boost in energy efficiency. However, safety regulators argue that any efficiency gain is outweighed by the potential for mechanical failure in life-or-death situations.
Automakers are now preparing to adjust designs and production plans to align with the new standards. While some manufacturers have already begun exploring mechanical backups and clearer handle markings, others may face substantial redesign costs. With China commanding a significant share of global EV sales, these regulatory changes are likely to resonate beyond its borders, influencing future vehicle design norms worldwide.
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