China bans hidden car door handles, which can trap people after crashes

"China has become the first nation to require a change to make it easier to rescue people from car crashes: Car doors must be able to open from either side mechanically, like by lifting a handle. The rules, which go into effect in 2027, follow international scrutiny of a futuristic design first popularized by Tesla, but adopted by many other automakers, in which door handles are electrically powered and hidden."

"They lie flush with the vehicle's exterior until they detect an approaching driver and pop out. They were embraced by automakers for both aerodynamic and aesthetic reasons, but introduced a new kind of vulnerability: They can malfunction after a crash or a battery failure. As Bloomberg News detailed in an investigative report in September, Tesla's electrically-powered doors could become impossible to open from the outside in an emergency, forcing responders to break windows to extract survivors."

"Days after the Bloomberg report, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into reports of 2021 Tesla Model Y exterior door handles failing to open. Reached for comment by NPR, a NHTSA spokesperson said that the safety regulator "generally does not comment on open investigations," but noted that the agency is also investigating an electronic or battery issue involving door handles in the Dodge Journey, and has previously influenced recalls of Ford and Fisker vehicles "for defects related to electronic door handles.""

China will require mechanically operable car doors that can open from either side by 2027 to make rescues easier. The mandate responds to concerns about electrically powered, flush door handles popularized by Tesla and used by multiple automakers. Those designs improve aerodynamics and aesthetics but can fail after crashes or battery loss, preventing external opening. Bloomberg's investigation reported instances where Tesla doors became impossible to open from outside, forcing responders to break windows. NHTSA opened an investigation into 2021 Model Y exterior handle failures, is probing similar Dodge Journey issues, has influenced past recalls, and is evaluating complaints about Model 3 interior releases.

Read at www.npr.org