Why China is banning hidden door handles on EVs

BEIJING: China has decided to ban hidden car door handles on electric vehicles (EVs), citing safety concerns that have intensified following several deadly incidents worldwide. The controversial design, first popularised by Tesla for its sleek, aerodynamic look, has come under growing scrutiny from regulators and safety experts.

According to The Guardian, China will soon require all new EVs sold in the country to feature mechanical door-release mechanisms accessible from both the inside and outside of the vehicle. The new regulation will take effect on January 1, 2027, and applies to all newly approved EV models.

Chinese authorities said the move aims to “improve the level of automotive safety design,” particularly in emergencies such as crashes, fires, or power failures, where electronic or concealed handles may fail.

Automotive analyst Alastair McCready summed up the issue, saying, “Sleek doors reduce drag, but they lose operability when you need it most.”

Concerns about hidden door handles were highlighted in a Bloomberg investigation last September, which detailed multiple cases where occupants were unable to exit vehicles following accidents. Shortly afterwards, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched a defect investigation into door handles on Tesla’s Model Y and Model 3.

Federal investigators noted that while Tesla vehicles include manual interior releases, many owners are unaware of them, and children often struggle to reach or operate them. The NHTSA reported receiving nine complaints related to door-handle failures in the 2021 Tesla Model Y. In four cases, owners had to break windows to escape the vehicle.

Notably, Tesla, the company whose design philosophy helped popularise hidden door handles, was absent from the list of official drafters on China’s automotive standards agency website.

While some US lawmakers have proposed similar rules mandating manual door releases in all new vehicles, no such regulation has yet been enacted. For now, China stands alone as the first major market to take concrete regulatory action against concealed door-handle designs.