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17h ago

China Bans Flush EV Door Handles, Mandates Mechanical Releases by 2027

The decision responds to fatal crash lessons, setting a template likely to influence global design.

Image
Close-up of flush-mounted, retracting door handle on Tesla automobile, San Ramon, California, September 21, 2020. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
FILE - A Tesla model Y and other Telsla vehicles sit at a dealership, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Kennesaw, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)
From next year, cars sold in China will have to have door handles with mechanical releases following safety concerns over problems with aerodynamic doors

Overview

  • Rules finalized on February 2 require exterior and interior door handles with mechanical release functions on electric vehicles sold in China.
  • The regulation takes effect January 1, 2027, with a compliance grace period until January 1, 2029 for models already approved for launch.
  • Technical specifications include an exterior handhold space of at least 60 mm × 20 mm × 25 mm and clearly marked interior releases no smaller than 1 cm × 0.7 cm.
  • The policy targets EVs; gasoline models with similar concealed handles are not covered at this stage, though semi-hidden handles that meet the specs remain permissible.
  • Automakers face redesigns affecting popular models such as Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y and numerous Chinese brands, with industry estimates citing costs that can exceed 100 million yuan per model and potential global knock-on effects as U.S. and European regulators pursue parallel probes and proposals.