China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has recently jointly released the Safety Technical Requirements for Automobile Door Handles. The regulation mandates that all vehicles sold in China, except for tailgates, must be equipped with mechanical exterior door handles and interior door handles. Even if the vehicle is locked due to an accident or power failure, the doors must still be able to be opened manually.
This requirement bans the use of hidden door handles commonly found on electric vehicles, making China the first country in the world to gradually phase out this design.
According to MIIT, the new regulation will take effect on January 1, 2027. Vehicles that have already received regulatory approval and are set to enter the Chinese market must revise their designs to comply with the new requirements by January 2029.
The move signals China’s transition from being the world’s largest electric vehicle market to becoming a global rule-setter in automotive technology, drawing significant attention from the international automotive industry.
Hidden door handles were pioneered by Tesla and later adopted by many Chinese electric vehicle brands, becoming a key exterior feature that distinguishes new energy vehicles from traditional gasoline-powered cars. These handles can be activated via a remote key, smartphone, or manual pressing. Automakers have promoted the design as enhancing a vehicle’s technological appeal and reducing aerodynamic drag.
In recent years, hidden door handles, led by Tesla’s design, have rapidly gained popularity for their high-tech appearance. However, their potential safety risks have increasingly come to light.
- In November 2024, a Tesla Model S in the US crashed into a tree and caught fire. According to multiple media reports citing lawsuit documents, the vehicle’s power system was damaged after the crash, and the doors reportedly could not be opened in time. All five passengers inside the car died.
- In October 2025, a Xiaomi SU7 electric vehicle caught fire in China. After the accident, the doors could not be opened smoothly, which sparked public debate over whether hidden and electronic door handles remain usable when a vehicle loses power.
Industry observers point to three main safety concerns with fully hidden door-handle designs. The handles may fail to unlock if the electronic system malfunctions. They can also freeze in low-temperature conditions. In some cases, their mechanical strength may be insufficient, which increases the risk of breakage.
The new standard clearly requires that door handles be equipped with a dedicated mechanical release mechanism, so that doors can still be opened manually even if the vehicle loses power or is involved in a collision.
Although the new regulation currently applies only to the Chinese market, China’s role as the world’s largest producer and consumer of new energy vehicles gives its standards influence beyond its borders.
Domestic automakers have already begun modifying door-handle designs for vehicles sold in China. Through electric vehicle exports and global supply chains, China’s standards could gradually evolve into widely adopted international norms.
