A crucial step to enhance road safety
In a move reflecting the growing priority of safety over aesthetics in the automotive industry, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has announced a complete ban on the use of hidden or pop-up door handles in all new cars sold in the country. This new legislation, which will take effect on January 1, 2027, marks a turning point in vehicle design standards in the world’s largest car market.
Background and historical context of the decision
Hidden door handles, which protrude from the car body when approached or pressed, have gained widespread popularity over the past decade. The American company Tesla pioneered this design with its Model S, presenting it as an element that enhances the vehicle's futuristic appearance and contributes to improved aerodynamics, reducing air resistance and leading to a slight increase in energy efficiency or battery range in electric vehicles. Many companies quickly followed suit, particularly emerging Chinese companies like Nio, Xpeng, and Xiaomi, who saw this design as a way to showcase the modernity and technological advancement of their products.
Safety concerns take center stage
Despite their visual appeal, these grab handles have raised serious safety concerns. The main problem lies in their reliance on the vehicle's electrical system. In emergencies, such as a collision causing a power outage or a fire, these handles may fail to deploy, trapping passengers inside the vehicle and significantly hindering rescue efforts. These concerns have intensified in China following documented incidents, most notably one in Chengdu last October where a Xiaomi electric car caught fire, and rescuers were unable to open the doors to save the driver, who died in the crash. This incident highlighted the real danger of this technology.
Details of the new legislation and its expected impact
The new regulation explicitly states that all car doors, with the exception of the trunk lid, “must be equipped with an external mechanical door handle.” This requirement ensures a reliable, manual means of opening the door from the outside under any circumstances, even in the event of a complete electrical system failure. The new rules will also improve the visibility of interior door handles by requiring manufacturers to permanently mark and illustrate them to facilitate their location and use in emergency situations.
This decision will have a far-reaching impact on the automotive industry, both domestically and internationally. Domestically, all Chinese and international companies selling vehicles in China will be required to redesign their future models to comply with the new regulations, while existing models that have already received approval will be given a two-year grace period to adapt. Internationally, given China's position as a major driver of the global electric vehicle market, this decision is likely to influence global design trends and may prompt other countries to reassess safety standards related to this technology, potentially leading to a decline in the popularity of concealed door handles worldwide in favor of safer and more reliable solutions.
