China will ban the use of hidden or retractable car door handles beginning next year, a move that could force design changes across much of the electric vehicle market, including models produced by Tesla and other automakers.
Under new rules released Monday by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, all vehicle doors — except tailgates — must include a mechanical release function. The policy targets electronically operated or concealed handles that rely on power to open.
Chinese regulators said the measure addresses safety concerns following fatal electric vehicle accidents in which electronic door systems reportedly malfunctioned, trapping occupants inside.
The regulation will take effect on Jan. 1, 2027. Automakers with models already approved for sale will have until Jan. 1, 2029, to update designs to comply with the new standard.
Vehicles featuring retractable door handles include Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y, BMW’s iX3, and a wide range of models produced by Chinese EV manufacturers.
Chris Liu, a Shanghai-based senior analyst at technology research firm Omdia, said the policy could have global implications and may prompt similar regulatory action elsewhere.
“China is the first major automotive market to explicitly ban electrically operated pop-out and press-to-release hidden door handles,” Liu said. “While other regions have raised safety concerns, China is the first to formalize them into a national safety standard.”
Liu added that regulators in Europe and other markets are likely to reference or align with China’s approach. The impact may be greatest on premium electric vehicles, where retractable handles are often used as a design and aerodynamic feature, potentially forcing costly redesigns or retrofits.
China’s industry ministry released a draft version of the rule for public comment in September.
Safety concerns over electronic door handles have also surfaced in the United States. Last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into reports that Tesla’s electronic door handles failed to function in certain situations.
