The Chinese government has officially announced a ban on flush-fitting (hidden) door handles, effective January 1, 2027. This decisive regulatory move follows a string of high-profile accidents where passengers and first responders were unable to open vehicle doors during life-threatening emergencies.
The Safety Crisis: Seconds Matter
The primary motivation behind the ban is emergency rescue accessibility. Investigation reports revealed that hidden handles often fail to deploy after a collision or electrical failure, trapping passengers inside. Furthermore, rescue teams have reported significant delays when dealing with these designs, as the handles can be difficult to locate or operate while wearing bulky protective gloves.
Impact on Industry Giants: From Tesla to Xiaomi
While Tesla was the pioneer that turned hidden handles into a symbol of modern electric vehicles (EVs), many Chinese manufacturers like Xiaomi and Grok-integrated Aion models followed suit for aerodynamic efficiency. However, the new policy sets strict requirements:
Mechanical Requirement: All vehicles must feature a manual mechanical override for both interior and exterior door opening.
Physical Accessibility: Exterior handles must provide adequate space to be gripped easily from any angle.
Visibility: Interior handles must be clearly visible to passengers at all times.
It is important to note that this is not a ban on electronic door systems, but rather a mandate for a reliable, visible, and ergonomic mechanical backup.
Market Reaction & Manufacturer Response
The announcement follows several tragic incidents in late 2025. In September 2025, Tesla acknowledged it was redesigning its emergency release mechanisms following multiple reports of passengers being trapped. Meanwhile, Xiaomi saw its stock price dip after a fatal accident where occupants were unable to exit their vehicle, sparking a massive public debate over "design vs. safety."
- Manufacturers often claim that concealed door handles reduce air resistance, increasing driving range. However, real-world testing shows that concealed handles only slightly reduce Cd (0.001 to 0.003), representing an increase in range of less than 0.5% in practical use. Many believe this is not worth the risk to safety.
- Besides accidents, northern China has also experienced problems with concealed door handles "frozen" in winter, preventing the electric motor from extending the handle and trapping car owners inside their homes or vehicles. This is another issue being considered by Chinese authorities.
- It is expected that by 2026-2027, we will see a trend towards "semi-flush flap" handles (handles that are flush with the body but have grooves for gripping), similar to those used in some new BMW models. These offer similar aerodynamic benefits but are safer and easier to open.
- This ban is part of a plan to standardize rescue procedures, preventing firefighters from being confused by the "overly different door opening methods" across different car brands, significantly increasing the chances of survival for victims.
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Source - CNN
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