Because of safety concerns, China will phase out the minimalist design made popular by Tesla and outlaw hidden door handles on automobiles sold there starting next year.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced new regulations on Monday that will go into effect on January 1, 2027, requiring door handles to have mechanical releases on both the inside and the outside.
According to the government, Chinese auto models that have already received approval for release will have two more years to comply.
The new regulations will “improve the level of automotive safety design”, it added.
Safety concerns have risen in China recently over sleek, aerodynamic car doors that reduce drag but are prone to losing operability in the event of a crash.
One high-profile incident occurred in October, when rescuers were shown failing to open the doors of a burning Xiaomi electric vehicle in the southwestern city of Chengdu.
The driver, reported to be under the influence of alcohol, died in the crash.
The new rules stipulate that all doors except the tailgate “shall be equipped with a mechanical release exterior door handle”.
According to the government, other regulations will increase inside handle visibility, such as mandating permanent graphic markings.
China is the largest EV market in the world, and its dozens of businesses are expanding internationally.
According to data released this month, the Chinese company BYD surpassed the US industry leader in the yearly category for the first time last year, selling more EVs than Tesla.
With the introduction of the Model S by Tesla in 2012, electronic or “flush” door handles made their debut in the EV market.
Folding into the body of the car, such door handles provide a slight boost to efficiency by reducing drag while the vehicle is in motion.
