Chinese regulatory authorities are reportedly planning a comprehensive ban on fully retractable (hidden) car door handles across the automotive industry, citing safety hazards and functional deficiencies. The move, if implemented, would mark a shift in automotive design, particularly for new energy vehicles (NEVs) that have widely adopted the feature.
According to an R&D professional from a car manufacturer who spoke to Mingjing Pro (明镜Pro) on September 4, discussions are underway regarding new regulations that would explicitly prohibit fully retractable door handles. Semi-retractable and traditional door handles would still be permitted, but critically, they must incorporate mechanical redundancy to ensure reliable operation.
Sources indicate that a draft for mandatory door handle standards is expected to be finalised this month. The current proposal suggests a direct ban on fully retractable handles, with a one-year transition period. Enforcement is anticipated to begin in July 2027, meaning new vehicles sold in China after this date would no longer feature these designs. Discussions also include automatic unlocking mechanisms for non-standard conditions, such as accident scenarios.
The news has sent ripples through the industry. “We have already notified various projects to implement this,” the source stated, acknowledging that while still in the discussion phase, the potential impact is immense. This regulatory action underscores growing concerns about hidden door handles, which have faced widespread public criticism for functionality falling far short of expectations.
The rise and fall of a design trend
Fully retractable door handles have become a prevalent design element in modern NEVs, often categorised into “lever-type” (physical mechanism) and “electronically controlled pop-out type” (motorised). While lauded for their futuristic aesthetic and perceived aerodynamic benefits, their practical utility and safety have been increasingly questioned.
Engineers’ calculations suggest that a 0.01 Cd reduction in drag coefficient, often attributed to hidden handles, translates to a minimal saving of approximately 0.6 kWh per 100 km. For home charging, the cost savings are negligible. Furthermore, SAE papers indicate that hidden door handles improve a sedan’s drag coefficient by only 0.005-0.01 Cd, significantly less than the 0.03 Cd often claimed by manufacturers. The added weight of 7-8 kilograms from the motors and mechanical structures can even negate any aerodynamic gains.
Beyond the dubious efficiency claims, hidden door handles present substantial drawbacks:
- Cost and reliability: Electronic door handles are reportedly three times more expensive than mechanical ones, yet suffer from an eight-fold higher failure rate. This contributes to increased repair costs for NEVs, with one leading new energy brand reporting that door handle failures account for 12% of all vehicle repair cases, often requiring costly full assembly replacements.
- Critical safety failures: In accidents involving power loss or fire, electric door handles (both exterior and interior) can become inoperable, severely hindering rescue efforts and occupant escape.
- In a 2024 “frozen door” incident in Changchun, an NEV’s occupants were trapped due to a frozen handle motor, missing critical rescue time.
- During the 2024 Guangdong heavy rain season, multiple vehicles with electric door handles experienced short circuits, preventing doors from opening and forcing passengers to smash windows to escape.
- China Insurance Automotive Safety Index (C-IASI) crash tests reveal that vehicles with electronic door handles achieved only a 67% door pop-out success rate in side collisions, starkly contrasting with the 98% success rate of mechanical handles.
- The National Accident In-depth Investigation System (NAIS) reported a 47% increase in accidents caused by door handle failures in 2024, with hidden handles accounting for a staggering 82% of these incidents.
- The Consumer Association noted a 132% year-on-year increase in complaints regarding children’s fingers being pinched by hidden door handles in 2024, including extreme cases of broken bones.
- Inconvenience: Users often find them inconvenient, especially in unfamiliar vehicles, and they are prone to malfunction in extreme weather conditions like freezing temperatures.
Industry’s own reckoning and alternatives
Some automakers have already taken a more cautious approach. Volkswagen, for instance, has consistently opted for semi-retractable door handles, balancing aesthetics with practicality and safety.
FAW–Audi‘s new generation A5L and Q6L e-tron models feature semi-retractable door handles with integrated micro-switches. In the event of a collision, a red pull cord automatically deploys, functioning as a mechanical handle for external rescuers.
Wei Jianjun, Chairman of Great Wall Motor, has publicly criticised hidden door handles, stating their “contribution to drag reduction is negligible,” and they are “heavy, have poor sealing, are noisy, and rely on electric power, posing safety hazards.”
Broader regulatory context
This potential ban comes after the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) initiated a revision of the mandatory national standard “Safety Technical Requirements for Automobile Door Handles” in May 2025, specifically addressing the safety risks posed by current hidden door handle designs. This move is seen as the beginning of a broader regulatory push to enhance automotive safety.
Beyond door handles, other controversial design trends, such as the elimination of physical buttons in favour of full touchscreens, panoramic sunroofs, and electronic side mirrors, have also drawn criticism. Concerns have also been raised about the misuse of “weight rings” to bypass steering wheel disengagement detection in advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), leading to accidents.
Internationally, regulatory bodies are also responding. The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) announced that from 2026, vehicles integrating critical functions like turn signals, hazard lights, horns, wipers, and emergency calls into touchscreens without physical controls will not achieve a five-star safety rating.
