China has become the first country to ban hidden door handles on electric vehicles, introducing sweeping safety rules that will reshape car design in the world’s largest auto market and could influence regulations globally.
The new policy, announced by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), requires all passenger vehicles sold domestically to feature clearly accessible mechanical door releases on both the inside and outside. The rules take effect on January 1, 2027, according to state media.
The move comes amid growing scrutiny of electric vehicle safety following a series of deadly accidents, including two fatal crashes involving Xiaomi EVs in China, where investigators suspect power failures prevented occupants from opening doors.
Under the regulations, every passenger door—excluding the trunk—must include a recessed exterior handle area measuring at least 6 centimeters by 2 centimeters by 2.5 centimeters, ensuring doors can be opened manually even during electrical failures.
Inside vehicles, manufacturers must also install visible instructions showing how to open doors mechanically. These signs must measure at least 1 centimeter by 0.7 centimeters to meet compliance standards.
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Vehicles already approved for sale or nearing market launch will be granted a two-year grace period to update their designs, according to the MIIT.
Hidden door handles have become a hallmark of modern electric vehicles, popularized globally by Tesla and widely adopted across China’s fast-growing new energy vehicle (NEV) sector, which includes battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, and fuel-cell vehicles.
Government-linked newspaper China Daily reported that about 60% of the top 100 best-selling NEV models currently use concealed door handle designs.
The regulatory shift comes as Tesla’s door handle systems face investigations abroad. In November, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a probe into Tesla’s electrically operated door handles after receiving reports that they failed during emergencies.
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The agency said it had logged nine complaints involving Tesla’s 2021 Model Y, the company’s flagship vehicle. In four cases, owners reportedly broke windows to free trapped occupants, including children.
European regulators are also weighing tougher safety standards for vehicle door access, signaling that China’s decision may accelerate similar moves elsewhere.