February 3,2026
RED FM News Desk
China will prohibit the use of hidden or retractable car door handles — a design commonly seen on Tesla and other electric vehicles — under new safety regulations taking effect next year.
According to guidelines released Monday by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, all vehicle doors, except tailgates, must be equipped with a mechanical release function. The move is intended to address safety concerns following fatal electric vehicle crashes in which electronic door systems reportedly malfunctioned, trapping occupants inside.
The regulation will apply to new models starting Jan. 1, 2027. Automakers with previously approved models will have until Jan. 1, 2029, to update their designs to comply.
Vehicles such as Tesla’s Model Y and Model 3, BMW’s iX3, and several models from Chinese manufacturers that feature pop-out or flush door handles could be affected. China is the first major automotive market to formally ban electric pop-out and press-to-release hidden door handles.
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