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.