China will prohibit hidden door handles on cars beginning in 2027, marking the first time a major automotive market has formalized a ban on the design feature popularized by Tesla and other electric vehicle manufacturers, CBS News reported.
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced the policy after safety concerns were raised following fatal electric vehicle accidents in which electronic doors reportedly malfunctioned, trapping passengers inside vehicles. Under the new regulations, all car doors except the tailgate must include a mechanical release function, CBS said.
The requirements for new internal and external door handles will take effect Jan. 1, 2027. Automakers with previously approved models will have until Jan. 1, 2029, to update their designs to comply with the rule.
The policy is expected to affect several vehicles equipped with retractable door handles, including Tesla Model Y, Tesla Model 3, BMW iX3 and multiple models produced by Chinese manufacturers.
Chris Liu, a senior analyst at Omdia, told CBS that other regions could follow China’s approach.
“While other regions have flagged safety concerns, China is the first to formalize this into a national safety standard,” Liu said. He added that the new requirements would likely have a greater impact on premium electric vehicles, as retractable door handles “are treated as a design and aerodynamic statement.”
In the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched an investigation last year into cases where Tesla’s electronic door handles reportedly failed, resulting in death.