- The standard takes effect January 1, 2027, while models already approved and to be launched in China may complete design changes by January 2029.
- Tesla pioneered the hidden door handle design, which was subsequently adopted by most Chinese EV makers, though with varying details.
(File photo shows a Tesla Model 3. Image credit: CnEVPost)
A new mandatory national auto safety standard in China prohibits hidden door handles, halting a design pioneered by Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA).
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released the standard on February 2, effective January 1, 2027. It mandates that electric vehicles (EVs) sold in China must be equipped with mechanical door handles on both the interior and exterior.
For models already approved and scheduled for launch in China, design modifications must be completed by January 2029.
The standard mandates that exterior door handles must remain operable even after irreversible restraint system failures or thermal runaway incidents involving the power battery, allowing doors to open even when the vehicle’s power is disconnected.
For interior door handles, the standard requires each door to have at least one independent mechanical release handle capable of opening its corresponding door.
In recent years, as automotive electrification and intelligent technology rapidly advanced, hidden and electric door handles became mainstream designs.
While enhancing aesthetics and aerodynamic performance, these designs expose safety hazards that include power failure and inability to open after collisions, according to the MIIT.
Tesla pioneered the hidden door handle design, subsequently adopted by most Chinese EV manufacturers with varying details.
Based on the degree of integration into the door panel, these handles primarily fall into two categories: fully hidden and semi-hidden.
Over the past few years, there have been several cases where occupants died in accidents because doors couldn’t be opened from the outside.
Last October, a Xiaomi (HKG: 1810, OTCMKTS: XIACY) SU7 electric sedan caught fire after a collision on a street in Chengdu, Sichuan province, southwest China, resulting in the driver’s death.
Following the accident, multiple bystanders attempted rescue efforts but were unable to open the doors, sparking widespread scrutiny of this handle design.
The standard takes effect January 1, 2028, requiring AEB systems to be standard in light vehicles rather than optional as before.
