China Bans Concealed EV Door Handles
▼ Summary
– China is banning concealed, electronically operated door handles on electric vehicles, effective January 1st, to improve safety.
– The new regulation requires all vehicles sold in China to have mechanical release handles on both the inside and outside.
– This ban targets a design popularized by Tesla and used by over 60% of top-selling EVs in China as of April 2025.
– The rule follows emergency incidents, including a fatal Xiaomi SUV crash where malfunctioning handles trapped the driver.
– Tesla’s door handles are also under safety investigation in the US, with reports of people getting stuck since 2018.
A new regulation from China will soon prohibit the use of concealed door handles on electric vehicles, a design feature made popular by Tesla and widely adopted across the industry. The mandate, set to take effect on January 1st, requires all vehicles sold in the country to be equipped with mechanical release handles on both the interior and exterior of the doors. This decisive move aims to resolve critical safety issues where occupants have found themselves trapped inside their cars during emergencies, particularly after accidents.
The ban specifically targets handles that retract flush with the vehicle’s body panels. This sleek, aerodynamic design has become a hallmark of modern EVs, with data indicating that over 60 percent of the top-selling electric and hybrid models in China featured such hidden handles earlier this year. The government’s action follows a consultation period that began last December, spurred by multiple concerning incidents.
Safety concerns came sharply into focus following a tragic collision involving a Xiaomi SU7 Ultra in Chengdu. In that incident, the electronic door handle system failed after the crash, trapping the driver inside as the vehicle caught fire. This and other reports of people struggling to exit vehicles with electronically operated handles during crises prompted the regulatory change. The new rule ensures a physical, non-electronic means of escape is always readily available.
These safety issues are not confined to China. Tesla’s electronic door handles are also under investigation in the United States for similar failures that have locked passengers inside. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reviewing the matter, and Tesla is reportedly redesigning its mechanism to integrate electronic and manual release functions into a single button. An independent analysis last year uncovered more than 140 reports in the U.S. since 2018 related to Tesla doors becoming stuck or inoperable.
The Chinese regulation represents a significant shift, prioritizing unambiguous safety access over minimalist design aesthetics. It will compel automakers, both domestic and foreign, to redesign door systems for the Chinese market, potentially influencing global design trends as manufacturers weigh the cost of developing market-specific features against adopting safer, more universal designs worldwide.
(Source: The Verge)
