China To Ban Hidden Door Handles - CleanTechnica

China is moving to ban hidden (flush) door handles on vehicles, a design popularized by Tesla and now common among electric vehicles (EVs) worldwide due to their aerodynamic benefits, which can add 5–10 kilometers of driving range. However, the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has raised safety concerns, noting that these door handles can malfunction during accidents, fires, or power outages, potentially trapping occupants inside and hindering emergency rescues. In response, China has published a draft national standard requiring all car doors (except tailgates) to have exterior handles with a specified hand-operable space and a mechanical release function, aiming to improve vehicle safety and protect lives. The draft standard is open for public comment, with new vehicle models required to comply within seven months and existing approved models given 19 months to adapt. Major automakers, including Toyota, Geely, and Leapmotor, are already preparing technical solutions to meet the new rules, such as mechanical backups inside hidden handles.