For a bit of common sense safety legislation arriving in 2027, you probably wouldn’t have seen it coming from the same country that’s still in the news for lead-painted toys. But, here we are, and as of 2027, China will outlaw electrically-powered retractable door handles.
That’s the headline, anyway. The real news is that, in China, all vehicles manufactured will be required to feature both interior and exterior door handles with mechanical release functions. Frankly, it’s legislation the world needs.
2026 Nissan Leaf door handleJared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/Valnet
Stupid Deaths Need To Stop
With a bunch of automakers rushing to be the sleekest and most modern on the market, people have died because they don’t want ugly mechanical door handles showing. Thankfully, but only following the lawsuit against Tesla following the death of three students from smoke inhalation in a Cybertruck, the idea of hiding the mechanical door release behind a flap is being reconsidered by some automakers in the US. However, China has been experiencing high-profile tragedies of its own because of power being cut off from door handles.
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Tesla isn’t as clear about the process, either.
In October, all occupants of a Xiaomi SU7 electric sedan were killed because bystanders couldn’t open the doors. The video of bystanders trying to open the doors while the car burns from the inside out is heartbreaking. A similar crash, reportedly also a Xiaomi SU7, led to three people being killed.
Tesla Owner’s Manual screenshot showing how to operate the rear door’s manual cable release.Tesla
A Practical Solution
While retractable door handles marginally aid aerodynamics, by their nature they rely on an electrical current to operate. If that current is cut, for example in a crash or a fire, then, obviously, they don’t work. Some vehicles using that system have a mechanical backup for passengers, whether that’s a regular door handle on the inside or, in Tesla and Rivian’s case, hidden behind a flap that’s tucked away out of sight.
If the mechanical release is hidden, passengers can’t find it unless they already know where it is. Even if emergency services know where the inside mechanical release is, that doesn’t necessarily mean they can reach it when they break the glass. China’s answer is to mandate that vehicles “weighing less than 3.5 tons must be equipped with interior and exterior car door handles that include a mechanical emergency opening function.” The current draft of regulations also specifies that handle placement and safety markings are required.
2025 BMW X3 30 xDrive door handle close-upJoel Stocksdale/CarBuzz/Valnet
Why Is This An Issue?
While not so much in the US, the new legislation should echo around the rest of the world. China is now the world’s largest car exporter, and it’s unlikely brands will vary their door mechanisms for export. It wouldn’t be cost-efficient, and other countries are likely to follow with their own legislation – the EU will likely be next.
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Social media is sending automakers a message that electronic doors need to get safer
However, this is one of those things that shouldn’t need legislation. Manufacturers like Xiaomi and Tesla have invited it by pushing for aesthetic over practicality and safety. Door handles are a mature technology and don’t need to be reinvented, and it’s pretty obvious that electric door handles won’t work in the absence of power.
Sources: Carscoops / SixthTone / EV.com
