Power-operated retractable door handles and flush-fitting door handles integrated into the vehicle body will be banned in China from the start of next year. Reports from both China and overseas indicate that in the event of an accident, first responders often face difficulties accessing the passenger cabin due to electrically controlled door-opening mechanisms.

The new regulations, which will come into effect on January 1, 2027, require power-operated door handles to be equipped with an easily accessible mechanical release, both inside and outside the vehicle.

According to China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the new legislation mandates that exterior doors must include a handle cavity measuring at least 6 cm × 2 cm × 2.5 cm. Inside the cabin, the door handle release must be clearly marked with a label or symbol measuring at least 1 cm × 0.7 cm to clearly indicate operating instructions.

It remains unclear what criteria MIIT will use to distinguish between different levels of door handle technology. There is also a possibility that semi-concealed door handles and electric door-opening mechanisms—such as those used on the Lexus NX, which feature traditionally shaped handles that trigger electronic releases—may not fall under the new ban.

Source: Drive