China bans hidden EV door handles following reports of fatal accidents

BEIJING — China will become the first country to ban hidden door handles on electric vehicles, following several fatal accidents that have sparked global safety concerns over the design popularized by Tesla.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced new regulations Monday requiring all cars sold in China to include mechanical opening mechanisms on both the interior and exterior of every door.

The mandate, which aims to improve automotive safety design, will take effect on Jan. 1. Automakers are expected to undergo significant redesigns for numerous models to remain compliant with the new law.

The flush-handle design first gained prominence in 2012 with the Tesla Model S, as it slightly reduces aerodynamic drag. The feature is currently found on approximately 60% of the 100 top-selling new energy vehicles in China.

Several serious accidents have been attributed to the design, particularly when electrical failures trap occupants inside during emergencies. In a recent crash in Chengdu involving a Xiaomi SU7, bystanders were reportedly unable to open the doors to save the driver before the vehicle was engulfed in flames.

Beijing’s recent prohibition of flush-mounted electronic door handles represents more than a localized safety update; it is a regulatory pivot with the potential to fundamentally redefine global automotive design. As the world’s preeminent market for electric vehicles (EVs), China’s domestic mandates frequently trigger a "Brussels Effect" in reverse, forcing international manufacturers to align their global engineering standards with Chinese law to maintain access to its massive consumer base.

The decision establishes a clear policy hierarchy: prioritizing functional safety and emergency egress over the minimalist aesthetics and marginal aerodynamic efficiencies that have defined the current EV era. For domestic giants such as BYD and Xiaomi, the mandate necessitates immediate and costly engineering overhauls. However, this regulatory hurdle may serve a broader strategic purpose. By institutionalizing more rigorous safety standards, Chinese OEMs can better challenge the long-standing perception that their vehicles are inferior to Western counterparts, particularly as they aggressivey expand into safety-conscious markets like the European Union.

Conversely, for Western incumbents like Tesla that pioneered the hidden-handle trend, the new rules present a significant operational dilemma. These manufacturers now face a choice between bifurcating their supply chains to produce China-specific models or abandoning their core design philosophies entirely to maintain global production uniformity. Either path introduces substantial complexity and erodes the economies of scale that these companies rely on.

Ultimately, this move signals a maturation of the Chinese automotive sector. Beijing is no longer content with being the world’s primary manufacturing hub; it is increasingly asserting its role as the global rule-setter, dictating the technical and safety benchmarks that will govern the future of mobility.

This safety issue is a significant concern for the Vietnamese-American community, especially as EVs become increasingly popular in neighborhoods like Little Saigon. With many community members—from nail salon owners to professionals on H-1B visas—either already driving Teslas or considering a move to electric, the safety implications of these specific door handle designs are being closely monitored by prospective buyers and current owners alike.