China Just Banned One Of The Most Controversial Car Features Ever

"China has officially banned hidden and concealed car door handles on electric vehicles in a world-first safety policy. The regulation takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, with a grace period until 2029 for models already approved. EVs and other cars sold there will soon require exterior and interior handles with mechanical releases to improve emergency access. The move impacts many EVs popular in China, including Tesla, but will likely affect global automotive safety standards."

"While the Chinese government spent much of last year investigating safety concerns related to the door handles, the move by the country's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology formally puts an end date on the controversial design feature. And although the move only impacts China's car market, its sheer size and importance to the global auto industryand safety issues elsewhere in the worldcould mean a shift away from the door design."

"Concealed car door handles date back to the 1940s and '50s, where they were used on road cars to simulate the aerodynamic features and overall style of many race cars. (The legendary Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing had doors like this, for example.) But in the modern era, they were popularized by the Tesla Model S, both to boost EV range by reducing aerodynamic drag and to create a futuristic "feel" to the cars."

China will ban hidden and concealed car door handles on electric vehicles, effective January 1, 2027, with a grace period to January 2029 for already-approved models. The rule mandates exterior and interior handles with mechanical releases to improve emergency access. The decision follows safety investigations and responds to growing global concerns about concealed handle designs. The ban affects many EV models sold in China, including Tesla, and could influence global automotive safety and design standards because of China’s market size. Concealed handles originated for aerodynamic styling and were popularized to boost EV range and create a futuristic feel.

Read at insideevs.com