• Ban on hidden door handles in electric vehicles over safety concerns
• New rule requires mechanical release both inside and outside each door

China has decided to ban the use of hidden door handles in electric vehicles, becoming the first country to prohibit this controversial design, popularized by Elon Musk’s Tesla.

The move comes amid increased global safety scrutiny of electric vehicles following several fatal incidents, including two deadly crashes in China where suspected power failures prevented doors from opening.

According to official media, vehicles will only be allowed for sale in China if they are equipped with mechanical door releases both inside and outside.

The new regulations are set to take effect on January 1, 2027.

The rules require the exterior of every passenger door, except the trunk, to feature a recessed area of at least 6 cm × 2 cm × 2.5 cm to allow access to the handle.

Inside the car, signs measuring at least 1 cm × 0.7 cm must guide passengers on how to open the door.

Manufacturers whose vehicles have already been approved and are nearing entry into the Chinese market will be granted an additional two years to adjust their designs in line with the new rules.

Hidden handles are widely used in China’s new energy vehicle market, which includes electric, hybrid, and fuel cell vehicles, appearing on roughly 60% of the top 100 best-selling models, according to local data.

Although the new regulations apply only to the Chinese market, their impact is expected globally due to China’s major presence in the international automotive industry.

Investigations into Tesla’s electric handles are already underway in the United States, while European authorities are considering similar regulations.

In November, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation after reports that Tesla Model Y 2021 door handles suddenly stopped working, trapping children inside vehicles, forcing some owners to break windows to resolve the issue.