Overview

• Reports from Chinese automotive media say draft standards are being finalized this month, with enforcement slated from July 2027 after a one‑year transition.
• The planned rules target fully concealed, motorized exterior handles, while permitting semi‑retractable or traditional designs that include mechanical redundancy.
• Crash tests by C‑IASI show electronic handles succeed in post‑impact operation 67% of the time versus 98% for mechanical units, and NAIS recorded a 47% rise in accidents tied to handle failures in 2024 with hidden handles accounting for most cases.
• Consumer complaints about finger‑pinch injuries from hidden handles jumped 132% last year, and documented failure modes include freezing, water ingress, short‑circuits, and power loss that can hinder escape or rescuer access; some interior emergency releases are difficult to locate.
• Engineering analyses cited in coverage estimate only a 0.01 Cd drag reduction (about 0.6 kWh per 100 km) while adding roughly 7–8 kg of hardware, and industry watchers expect global designs to shift away from fully retractable handles given China’s market influence.