Overview

• A draft of mandatory door‑handle standards is reportedly due this month, with a one‑year transition and enforcement set for July 2027.
• The plan targets fully hidden exterior handles, allowing semi‑retractable or traditional designs only if they include mechanical redundancy and clearly marked interior emergency releases.
• Crash tests by C‑IASI found electric handles popped doors successfully in 67% of side impacts versus 98% for mechanical handles.
• Official figures cited in reports show a 47% rise in handle‑related accidents in 2024 and a 132% increase in finger‑pinch complaints tied to hidden handles.
• Engineers estimate just a ~0.01 Cd drag benefit (about 0.6 kWh per 100 km) while added mechanisms weigh 7–8 kg, and analysts say a China ban could prompt carmakers to drop fully retractable handles globally.