On February 3, 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China announced a new requirement that will come into effect on January 1, 2027, prohibiting the use of hidden door handles with electronic control on electric vehicles. This decision makes China a pioneer in this area.
According to the new rules, all vehicles must be equipped with a mechanical door opening system accessible from both the outside and inside. Each passenger door must now have a recess for manual opening, and clear instructions for using the mechanism must be placed inside the cabin.
This decision was made following several tragic traffic accidents in the country, including incidents involving Xiaomi electric vehicles, where a failure of the electrical system prevented passengers from opening the doors. Cars that have already been certified for sale will have up to two years to make the necessary design changes.
Hidden door handles first appeared in the Tesla Model S in 2012 and have since gained significant popularity. According to China Daily, they are installed on about 60% of the best-selling electric vehicles in China. Experts believe that the new standards may also impact international car manufacturers such as Tesla and Kia.
In other regions, including the USA and Europe, the risks associated with electronic door opening mechanisms are also being examined. For example, the American regulator NHTSA initiated an investigation after reports that passengers were getting trapped in Tesla vehicles.
