Overview
- China’s MIIT finalized a national standard that outlaws concealed door handles on electric vehicles starting January 1, 2027, with already approved models given until January 1, 2029 to comply.
- The regulation mandates mechanical release handles on both the interior and exterior of each door and sets prescriptive requirements for recessed exterior grip space and permanent interior signage.
- Handles must remain operable after collisions or power loss, including battery thermal-runaway scenarios, to ensure occupants and rescuers can open doors in emergencies.
- The rule targets EVs and new‑energy vehicles, leaving similar systems on gasoline models outside the mandate for now, and affects an estimated 60% of China’s top‑selling NEVs that use concealed handles.
- Automakers face costly redesigns—industry sources estimate more than 100 million yuan per model—as some brands already revert to traditional handles, while U.S. and European scrutiny and proposed U.S. legislation signal potential global alignment.