China to ban hidden car door handles on all EVs over crash safety concerns

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 2 min read 100% complete by Alastair McCready in TaipeiFebruary 3, 2026 at 06:27 AM

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China will ban hidden car door handles on all new electric vehicles (EVs) starting January 1, 2025, becoming the first country to do so due to safety concerns. The new regulations, announced by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, require all cars sold in China to have a mechanical release on both the inside and outside of every door, with specific size and signage requirements. This decision follows several deadly accidents where occupants were trapped in EVs with concealed door handles due to power failures, prompting global scrutiny of the design. The ban will force Chinese car manufacturers to redesign many vehicles, although some already approved models have a two-year grace period. This regulation impacts the world's largest EV market, where hidden door handles are a common design feature.

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