Hidden door handles is a design element that has been widely adopted in the cars we see today, especially EVs. However, according to CarNewsChina (CNC), authorities in China are planning to place a ban on these handles due to safety concerns.
Although these door handles provide aerodynamic benefits, vehicle safety appears to be compromised. This was revealed by an anonymous automotive personnel while speaking to a news site Mingjing Pro.
The personnel also added that while fully retractable handles are facing a ban, traditional and semi-retractable door handles would still be permitted. However, they must incorporate a mechanically redundant function for reliability. A regulation draft for mandatory door handle standards is expected to be finalised this month, with a one-year transition period.
This initiative has been taken due to multiple safety hazards caused by fully retractable handles. In situations such as power loss or fire, the door handles become useless, preventing the vehicle’s doors from being opened. Furthermore, crash tests conducted by the China Insurance Automotive Safety Index (C-IASI) revealed that during a side collision, electrically operated door handles achieved a door pop-out success rate of just 67%, compared with 98% for mechanical handles.
In addition, the National Accident In-depth Investigation System (NAIS) reported a 47% increase in accidents related to door handle failures in 2024, with hidden handles accounting for 82% of these cases. Meanwhile, the Consumer Association in China recorded a 132% rise in complaints of finger-pinch incidents caused by hidden door handles last year, with some severe cases resulting in broken bones.
The rule is expected to be enforced from July 2027 and new vehicles sold in China will no longer be permitted to feature fully retractable door handles from that date onwards. It remains unclear whether the updated designs will also apply to vehicles by Chinese brands that are released to the global market.
(Source: CNC)
