China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has issued a new safety regulation, effective January 1, 2027, that will effectively ban fully electronic, retractable car door handles that lack a mechanical backup. The rule mandates that all vehicles must be equipped with both interior and exterior door handles that can be operated mechanically, without power, to ensure access for occupants and rescuers in an emergency.
The move addresses growing safety concerns following several high-profile incidents where occupants were trapped in vehicles after collisions or power failures because the electronic handles failed to deploy. The regulation applies to electric vehicles and will require significant design changes for many automakers who have adopted flush or pop-out handles for aerodynamic and aesthetic reasons, including Tesla and several Chinese EV brands like Xiaomi and AITO.
As the world's largest automotive market, this Chinese regulation is expected to have a global impact, potentially leading manufacturers to adopt mechanical releases for flush handles across all markets to streamline design and production.