China to Prohibit ‘Hidden’ Car Door Handles Amid Safety Concerns
In a significant regulatory move, China has announced plans to ban ‘hidden’ car door handles starting in 2027. This decision positions China as the first country to phase out a design that was initially popularized by Tesla and has since been adopted by various Chinese automakers, including Xiaomi.
The hidden handle design operates through a key fob, mobile phone, or by manually pressing the handle. However, it has faced scrutiny in both the United States and China due to potential safety risks associated with its functionality.
Last year, the U.S. auto safety agency initiated a defect investigation into the emergency door release controls of the Tesla Model 3 sedan. Tesla, which did not comment on the investigation at that time, has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the new regulations.
According to China’s industry ministry, the new safety technical requirements mandate that every car door must be equipped with both exterior and interior handles. This means that while mechanical release designs will be compulsory, innovations such as electrical handles will remain optional.
The new policy outlines specific rules regarding the placement of handles on the exterior of vehicles and their operational requirements to ensure they can be opened in the event of an accident. Additionally, it stipulates that interior handles must be clearly visible to users.
From January 1, 2027, all new vehicle models will need to comply with this updated door handle design regulation. Existing approved models will be required to adhere to these rules by January 1, 2029, as stated by the ministry.
In a tragic incident reported by Chinese state media, a driver of a Xiaomi SU7 Ultra sedan lost his life in an accident after bystanders were unable to open the door to rescue him from the burning vehicle. Xiaomi has not publicly commented on this incident and did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.
(Reporting by Qiaoyi Li, Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh; editing by Alexander Smith)
Related:
In a significant regulatory move, China has announced plans to ban ‘hidden’ car door handles starting in 2027. This decision positions China as the first country to phase out a design that was initially popularized by Tesla and has since been adopted by various Chinese automakers, including Xiaomi.
The hidden handle design operates through a key fob, mobile phone, or by manually pressing the handle. However, it has faced scrutiny in both the United States and China due to potential safety risks associated with its functionality.
Last year, the U.S. auto safety agency initiated a defect investigation into the emergency door release controls of the Tesla Model 3 sedan. Tesla, which did not comment on the investigation at that time, has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the new regulations.
According to China’s industry ministry, the new safety technical requirements mandate that every car door must be equipped with both exterior and interior handles. This means that while mechanical release designs will be compulsory, innovations such as electrical handles will remain optional.
The new policy outlines specific rules regarding the placement of handles on the exterior of vehicles and their operational requirements to ensure they can be opened in the event of an accident. Additionally, it stipulates that interior handles must be clearly visible to users.
From January 1, 2027, all new vehicle models will need to comply with this updated door handle design regulation. Existing approved models will be required to adhere to these rules by January 1, 2029, as stated by the ministry.
In a tragic incident reported by Chinese state media, a driver of a Xiaomi SU7 Ultra sedan lost his life in an accident after bystanders were unable to open the door to rescue him from the burning vehicle. Xiaomi has not publicly commented on this incident and did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.
(Reporting by Qiaoyi Li, Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh; editing by Alexander Smith)
Related:
