Following mounting evidence of dangerous failures, China has resolved to ban hidden EV door handles. China becomes the first country in the world to outlaw the contentious styling elements that Tesla, owned by multi-billionaire Elon Musk, brought to mainstream adoption.
American safety authorities have also turned a critical eye on hidden door handles, launching an investigation in November to examine Tesla’s electrically-operated door handles after documenting nine complaints regarding 2021 Model Y automobiles, the manufacturer’s flagship offering.
Incident reports described handles abruptly ceasing to operate and trapping children inside vehicles. Four situations required owners to smash vehicle glass to extract occupants, underscoring the severity of the malfunction risks. In China, fresh regulations mandate that automobiles can only obtain retail authorization when equipped with manual release systems accessible from both vehicle interiors and exteriors, state media outlets confirmed.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology specified exact dimensional standards: each passenger door’s exterior surface excluding the rear cargo area must incorporate a depressed area measuring minimally 6 centimeters by 2 centimeters by 2.5 centimeters allowing handle operation. Interior visual indicators spanning at minimum a centimeter by 0.7 centimeters must demonstrate door opening procedures to occupants.
Deadly accidents accelerated the regulatory intervention, with two fatal collisions in China involving Xiaomi electric vehicles triggering concerns after electrical system failures appeared to block door operation during critical moments.
Globally, electric vehicles are experiencing heightened examination from safety oversight organizations following multiple fatal accidents involving door access malfunctions. These incidents have exposed vulnerabilities in designs prioritizing sleek aesthetics over emergency egress functionality.
Hidden handle designs currently pervade China’s new energy vehicle sector, encompassing battery-electric automobiles, hybrid powertrains, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Roughly 60% among the nation’s top 100 best-selling new energy vehicles incorporate sleek, recessed handles, based on information referenced by state-run publication China Daily. The widespread adoption demonstrates how quickly automotive manufacturers embraced the design trend without fully addressing potential safety implications.
Implementation of the new door handle regulations will begin January 1, 2027. Automobiles that previously received authority approval and are currently in ultimate phases of Chinese market entry will be granted two supplementary years for design modifications, granting manufacturers time to adapt.
While these requirements govern only vehicles marketed within Chinese borders, the nation’s substantial footprint in worldwide automotive manufacturing suggests the policy shift will reverberate internationally.
European regulators are also evaluating comparable standards, as Tesla’s door handle systems undergo continuing examination by American safety authorities. The regulatory cascade reflects growing recognition that sleek styling cannot compromise occupant safety. This prohibition reflects escalating international attention toward prioritizing utilitarian safety above aesthetic styling in electric automobiles.
The Chinese ban may establish a precedent for similar restrictions across other major automotive markets, fundamentally reshaping how manufacturers approach door handle design in future electric vehicle development. This regulatory shift is something that entities like Massimo Group (NASDAQ: MAMO) in the automotive sector need to note and take into consideration over the coming years.
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