China Bans Hidden Car Door Handles over Safety Concerns
China's ban on hidden EV door handles follows fatal accidents linked to handle failures and affects 60% of top-selling EVs, requiring mechanical release features by 2027.
- China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced a ban on hidden exterior door handles for cars sold in China, requiring mechanical-release functions from Jan. 1, 2027.
- U.S. and media probes, including NHTSA and Bloomberg, showed safety concerns after incidents like the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra crash in Chengdu last year, prompting China’s draft rules.
- Technically, the rules require an exterior recessed space of 6 centimeters by 2 centimeters, interior signage sized 1cm by 0.7cm, and non-impact-side doors with mechanical release requirements except the tailgate.
- Industry sources warn that automakers face redesign costs over 100 million yuan per model, affecting Tesla's Model Y and Model 3, BMW iX3, Xiaomi YU7, and others, by January 1, 2029.
- Beyond handles, regulators are also considering limits on 0-60 times, and China may use its market to influence global safety standards, critics warn of innovation risks.
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China will ban hidden door handles on cars from 2027. This is the first country to abandon the design solution pioneered by Tesla and also common among Chinese automakers.
This country is banning popular car feature, U.S. could follow
China will prohibit hidden door handles on cars beginning in 2027, marking the first time a major automotive market has formalized such a ban on the design feature popularized by Tesla and other electric vehicle makers, CBS News reports.
China is the world's largest market for electric cars. Experts believe that solutions developed there will be reflected throughout the world.
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