1 hour ago
Last Updated:February 05, 2026, 11:09 IST
China's industry ministry on Monday said that under its new safety technical requirements, every car door should be equipped with both exterior and interior handles.
China to ban 'hidden' car door handles. (Representative Image)
China plans to ban ‘hidden’ car door handles starting in 2027. This decision will make China the first nation to eliminate a design first introduced by Tesla and later adopted by Chinese companies like Xiaomi.
The hidden handle design draws scrutiny concerns in both the United States and China over potential safety risks.
According to Reuters, the US auto safety agency last year opened a defect probe into the Tesla Model 3 Sedan’s emergency door release controls. However, Tesla is yet to comment on the investigation.
Meanwhile, China’s industry ministry on Monday said that under its new safety technical requirements, every car door should be equipped with both exterior and interior handles. Mechanical release designs will be mandatory, with innovations such as electrical handles optional.
In October last year, the driver of a Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Sedan died in an accident after passers-by were unable to open the door to pull him out of the burning vehicle, Chinese media reported.
China’s New Policy
According to China’s new policy, car handles must be located on the outside of a car. They should function to ensure that they can be opened in the event of an accident. It also requires interior handles to be clearly visible.
New vehicle models must align their door handle design with the new regulation from January 1, 2027. The approved models will come under the rules by January 1, 2029, the ministry said.
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First Published:
February 05, 2026, 11:09 IST
News auto China To Ban 'Hidden' Car Door Handles Made Popular By Elon Musk's Tesla
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