China announced the ban on electric and retractable door handles starting next year after analyzing an increased risk of accidents associated with the feature.
The decision, announced by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), will apply to new vehicles starting January 1, 2027. Cars already in production will have 25 months to comply with the new regulations.
As a result of the new measure, cars weighing less than 3.5 tons must be equipped with mandatory mechanical opening systems, both on the interior and exterior sides.
Additionally, the new regulation also emphasizes that “there must be sufficient manual operating space relative to the vehicle body surface to operate the mechanical release function.”
Retractable and electric door handles have gained a lot of popularity in recent years and have become a common feature on various electric cars with a minimalist design appeal, such as vehicles from Tesla and BYD.
However, the topic came to light due to the increase in fatal accidents in which rescue teams were unable to quickly access vehicle occupants because of difficulty unlocking the doors.
In many cars, these handles rely exclusively on electric motors to function and do not have emergency mechanical operations, which can prevent drivers and passengers from evacuating after collisions that affect the vehicle’s electrical systems.
It is worth emphasizing that China’s ban will affect all electric car companies, including the Chinese BYD. But among them, the most impacted will be Tesla, as all of the manufacturer’s electric vehicles feature retractable handles.
In other words, if Tesla wants to continue operating in China, one of its most important markets, starting next year, it will need to consider a design change that includes physical handles and reliable mechanical door-opening systems in its models.
On the other hand, as highlighted by Mashable, Tesla’s challenge may not end in China. Recently, U.S. regulatory bodies have also started evaluating the safety risks of such handles. This means that in the near future, the ban could also come into effect in the United States.
Photo: Unsplash. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
