China banning hidden car door handles starting in 2027 due to safety concerns
#China #hidden door handles #electric vehicles #safety concerns #Tesla #automotive regulations #retractable door handles #global impact
📌 Key Takeaways
- China will ban hidden door handles on cars starting January 1, 2027, due to safety concerns.
- All car doors must include a mechanical release function, except for tailgates.
- Existing approved car models have until January 1, 2029, to comply with the new regulations.
- The ban affects popular EVs like Tesla's Model Y and Model 3, BMW's iX3, and various Chinese-branded vehicles.
- China's move could influence global regulations, potentially leading to costly redesigns for carmakers.
📖 Full Retelling
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced on February 4, 2026, that it will ban hidden door handles on cars starting January 1, 2027, due to safety concerns. This regulation targets electric vehicles (EVs) from Tesla and other manufacturers, requiring all car doors to include a mechanical release function. The policy follows fatal accidents where electronic doors failed, trapping passengers inside. Existing approved car models will have until January 1, 2029, to comply with the new design requirements. The ban affects popular models like Tesla's Model Y and Model 3, BMW's iX3, and various Chinese-branded vehicles equipped with retractable door handles. Chris Liu, a senior analyst at Omdia, noted that China is the first major market to formalize this safety standard, potentially influencing global regulations. Carmakers may face costly redesigns or retrofits, particularly for premium EVs where retractable handles are seen as a design and aerodynamic feature. The draft rules were published in September 2025 for public comment, and the U.S. has also investigated Tesla's door handle failures, highlighting broader safety concerns.
🐦 Character Reactions (Tweets)
Eva Doorly2027: The year we say goodbye to the 'Oops, I'm locked in my Tesla' meme. #SafetyFirst #GoodbyeHiddenHandles
Maxwell LocksmithChina just made sure your car doors won't ghost you. #NoMoreDoorDating #TeslaWho?
Lila Tech2027: The year car doors become more reliable than my Wi-Fi. #Progress #HiddenHandlesGoneWild
Rick DesignsAerodynamics vs. Safety: Safety wins. Tesla, it's time to say goodbye to your fancy disappearing act. #GoodbyeHiddenHandles #SafetyWins
💬 Character Dialogue
Джон Сноу:
Hidden door handles? That's like a castle without a drawbridge. What's next, doors that only open with a secret handshake?
Сейлор Мун:
Oh no, how will people escape from their cars? This is a crisis! The Moon will not stand for such reckless endangerment!
Скорпіон:
Get over here! This is why you don't trust technology. Mechanical is the only way to go!
Джон Сноу:
I mean, I've seen doors that won't open, but at least they're not made of ice. That's a winter problem.
Сейлор Мун:
In the name of the Moon, I decree that all car doors must be as reliable as my transformation sequence!
🏷️ Themes
Safety regulations, Electric vehicles, Automotive industry, Global impact
📚 Related People & Topics
Tesla
Topics referred to by the same term
Tesla most commonly refers to: Nikola Tesla (1856–1943), a Serbian-American electrical engineer and inventor Tesla, Inc., an American electric vehicle and clean energy company, formerly Tesla Motors, Inc.
China
Country in East Asia
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the second-most populous country after India, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, representing 17% of the world's population. China borders fourteen countries by land across an area of 9.6 million square ki...
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📄 Original Source Content
MoneyWatch China banning hidden door handles on cars starting in 2027 due to safety concerns February 4, 2026 / 7:50 AM EST / AP Add CBS News on Google Hong Kong — China will ban hidden door handles on cars, commonly used on Tesla's electric vehicles and many other EV models, starting next year. All car doors must include a mechanical release function for handles, except for the tailgate, according to details released by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Officials said the policy aims to address safety concerns after fatal EV accidents in which electronic doors reportedly failed to operate and trapped passengers inside vehicles. The new requirement for both internal and external door handles will take effect on Jan. 1, 2027. For car models that were already approved, carmakers will have until Jan. 1, 2029, to make design changes to match the regulations. Vehicles including Tesla's Model Y and Model 3, BMW's iX3 and other models by many Chinese brands feature retractable car door handles that could be subject to the new rules. Chris Liu, a Shanghai-based senior analyst at technology research and advisory group Omdia, said the global impact of China's new rules could be substantial and other jurisdictions may follow suit on retractable door handles. Carmakers will be facing potentially costly redesigns or retrofits. "China is the first major automotive market to explicitly ban electrical pop-out and press-to-release hidden door handles," he said. "While other regions have flagged safety concerns, China is the first to formalize this into a national safety standard." It's likely that regulators in Europe and elsewhere will reference or align with China's approach, Liu said. The new requirements would impact premium EVs more as retractable door handles "are treated as a design and aerodynamic statement," he added. A draft of the proposed rules was published by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in September for public comment....