China to Ban Hidden Car Door Handles from 2027 Over Safety Concerns

• China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced a ban on hidden car door handles, effective January 1, 2027.
• The new regulations require both interior and exterior mechanical releases for door handles to improve automotive safety design.
• Existing car models approved for launch will have an additional two years to comply with the new rules.
• Safety concerns escalated after a fatal incident in Chengdu where rescuers struggled to open doors of a burning Xiaomi EV.
• The ban targets minimalist designs, popularized by Tesla, which can lose operability in crashes, despite their aerodynamic benefits.

Why It Matters: China will ban hidden car door handles from 2027 to enhance safety, requiring mechanical releases.