• China bans hidden door handles in electric vehicles to enhance safety.
• New regulations will require mechanical release handles by January 2027.
• The ban follows multiple safety incidents linked to the design.
• Currently, about 60% of top-selling new energy vehicles have hidden handles.
• Measures aim to improve visibility and access to emergency exits in cars.

China has announced a ban on hidden car door handles for electric vehicles (EVs), becoming the first country to outlaw the controversial design popularized by Tesla. The rule, which comes into effect on January 1, 2027, mandates that all car doors must be equipped with both exterior and interior mechanical release handles to ensure safety under emergency situations, according to BBC and Channel News Asia.

This regulation follows scrutiny received by sleek and aerodynamic car designs, which have raised concerns about their operability in emergencies. High-profile incidents have highlighted these risks, including a case involving a Xiaomi vehicle where rescuers could not open the doors to save the driver from a burning car after an accident, as noted by Reuters and Channel News Asia.

The new rules specify that every passenger door, except for the tailgate, must feature a recessed handle that meets certain size requirements aimed at promoting easier access. Additionally, interior handle markings will need to be visible and permanently displayed, enhancing the safety features in the design of future vehicles. China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology emphasizes that these changes are crucial for the automotive sector as concerns regarding safety escalate following recent incidents involving hidden handles in vehicles like those produced by Xiaomi, as detailed by BBC and Reuters.

The automotive industry in China, which is the largest EV market globally, has seen hidden door handles in approximately 60% of the top 100 best-selling new energy vehicles. This shift in regulation could influence global automotive designs, with many countries and companies already observing the implications of China's stringent safety measures. The case of Tesla's door mechanism has even drawn interest from U.S. safety regulators following reports of malfunctioning handles, as reported by Reuters and BBC.