The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has announced that electrically-operated flush-fitting or concealed car door handles will be banned in the country from January 1, 2027. This makes China the first nation to introduce such a regulation, aimed at improving access for occupants and first responders during accidents, and it mandates a mechanical door release on both the inside and outside of vehicles.
- Clear interior markings showing how to open the doors will also be mandatory
- Bloomberg reported 15 fatal accidents where doors could not be opened
New Chinese regulation explained
100 top-selling NEVs in China come with flush door handles
The rule mandates that, excluding the tailgate, every passenger door must have a recessed space of at least 6cm by 2cm by 2.5cm to allow manual operation of the door handle. Clear markings inside (no less than 1cm by 0.7cm) showing occupants how to operate the doors should also be provided. About 60 percent of the top 100 best-selling new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China, including electric, hybrid and fuel-cell models, come with flush door handles, the BBC reported, citing data from the state-run China Daily.
Flush door handles, which reduce drag and improve aerodynamic efficiency, were popularised by Tesla EVs, and many carmakers have followed suit. However, concerns have grown over the reliability of these electrically operated units during crashes or battery failures, with a Bloomberg report from December 2025 highlighting 15 deaths linked to crashes in which doors could not be opened. It remains to be seen that other car markets, including India, enforce such measures in the future.
