In a significant step for automotive safety, China has banned the use of hidden door handles on electric vehicles (EVs), making it the first country to implement such regulations. This decision follows a series of fatal accidents involving electric vehicles where power failures were suspected to have hindered access to the doors during emergencies. The regulation mandates mechanical door releases on both the inside and outside of vehicles, set to take effect on January 1, 2027.
The change is prompted by safety scrutiny from regulators worldwide amidst increasing incidents involving EVs. Notably, some recent crashes involving Xiaomi EVs highlighted the dire implications of inaccessible doors following power failures.
As part of the new safety requirements, every passenger door must have a recessed space measuring at least 6cm by 2cm by 2.5cm for easy access to the handles. Moreover, interior signs indicating how to open the doors must be at least 1cm by 0.7cm in size.
Cars already approved for sale will receive a two-year grace period to update their designs to comply with these regulations. Currently, hidden handles are commonplace in approximately 60% of the top 100 best-selling new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China, which includes electric, hybrid, and fuel cell cars.
While the new rules only apply to vehicles sold in China, the country’s significant influence in the global automotive industry suggests they could set a precedent for future regulations internationally. Regulatory concerns about Tesla's door handle design are also mounting, with investigations already underway by U.S. safety regulators due to reports of malfunctioning handles that left children trapped inside their cars.
The change is prompted by safety scrutiny from regulators worldwide amidst increasing incidents involving EVs. Notably, some recent crashes involving Xiaomi EVs highlighted the dire implications of inaccessible doors following power failures.
As part of the new safety requirements, every passenger door must have a recessed space measuring at least 6cm by 2cm by 2.5cm for easy access to the handles. Moreover, interior signs indicating how to open the doors must be at least 1cm by 0.7cm in size.
Cars already approved for sale will receive a two-year grace period to update their designs to comply with these regulations. Currently, hidden handles are commonplace in approximately 60% of the top 100 best-selling new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China, which includes electric, hybrid, and fuel cell cars.
While the new rules only apply to vehicles sold in China, the country’s significant influence in the global automotive industry suggests they could set a precedent for future regulations internationally. Regulatory concerns about Tesla's door handle design are also mounting, with investigations already underway by U.S. safety regulators due to reports of malfunctioning handles that left children trapped inside their cars.
