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China is set to become the first country to ban retractable door handles on passenger vehicles. The trend, popularised by EV makers seeking sleek silhouettes and improved aerodynamics, has raised safety concerns amongst vehicle legislators.
The new safety standards were announced by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and will take effect in 2027. Under this legislative change all car doors are mandated to include clearly visible, mechanically operable internal and external handles.
According to the ministry, the updated regulations aim to standardize door-handle design to address issues including “inconvenient operation” and the “inability to open after an accident.”
Under the new rules, doors must open even in the event of a power failure, and manufacturers will also be required to install instructional signage near interior handles to ensure motorists can locate mechanical releases with ease.
Retractable door handles have become synonymous with American EV-maker, Tesla, and have been widely adopted by Chinese EV makers. The sleek design choice means handles remain flush with the vehicle body until activated electronically. While automakers argue the design improves aerodynamic efficiency, safety regulators and many consumers have raised concerns around safety.
China’s retractable crackdown follows a series of high-profile accidents, including a fatal incident involving a Xiaomi SU7 Ultra. State media reported that at least one passenger was trapped because the doors could not be opened after a collision.
In another case, EV maker Aito said that during a crash, “the power and signal cables had been immediately severed, preventing the door handle controller from receiving the ejection signal,” forcing emergency services to break a window to access the mechanical release.
Statistics from J.D. Power reveal a similar trend; according to a 2024 report, battery-electric vehicle owners reported door-handle issues at a rate of 3.1 problems per 100 vehicles, up sharply from 0.2 in 2020.
China is not the only country evaluating if this is a style-over-substance approach; U.S. safety regulators opened an investigation into Tesla, citing concerns that the mechanical door release in the 2022 Model 3 left consumers confused and weren’t “easily accessible.”
With nearly half of new vehicles sold in China now electric or plug-in hybrid, the new rules are expected to have far-reaching implications for global automakers seeking Chinese sales.
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