China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has released draft mandatory national standards for car door handle safety, addressing concerns about newer electronic and concealed door handle designs.
The “Technical Requirements for Automobile Door Handle Safety,” released for public comment on September 24, will remain open for feedback until November 22, 2025.
According to the explanatory document, the standards aim to regulate new electric concealed door handles and address emerging safety needs. The initiative seeks to establish safety baselines while guiding manufacturers to improve door handle design and overall vehicle safety.
Key requirements in the draft standards include:
- Every door (excluding trunk lids) must feature an external handle with mechanical release functionality
- In case of accidents involving battery thermal events, non-collision side doors must be openable through external handles without tools
- External door handles must provide adequate hand operation space of at least 60mm×20mm×25mm, regardless of handle position
- Every door must include internal handles with mechanical release capability that can open doors without external tools
- If electric internal handles are installed, mechanical backup handles must also be provided
- Internal handles must be easily identifiable, clearly visible, positioned within 300mm of door edges, and located within specific zones relative to seating positions
In an interview with Chinese newspaper CNAutoNews, Rong Hui, Deputy Director of the China Automotive Standardisation Research Institute, explained that the standards were developed through extensive research involving over 20 companies and 63 vehicle models. The requirements address industry pain points while balancing technological advancement with safety concerns.
“With the development of automotive electrification, electric concealed door handles have been widely adopted, and the operation methods and structural types of door handle products on the market are increasingly diverse,” Rong stated. “These standards aim to respond to new technologies and safety requirements.”
The standards focus on three key areas: regulating door handle structural types, ensuring release methods maintain functionality during power loss, and standardising handle placement with clear safety markings.
The MIIT conducted comprehensive research on over 230 vehicle models’ door handle configurations and performed validation testing on more than 20 models. Industry experts from over 100 domestic and international vehicle manufacturers, parts suppliers, and testing institutions participated in the standards development process.
Editor’s comment
In 2012, the Tesla Model S was the first to make electronically controlled pop-out flush door handles standard, complemented by inductive automatic pop-out and a streamlined design flush with the car body. This instantly became a symbol of technological sophistication and ‘futuristic appeal’, subsequently emulated by numerous car manufacturers.
However, this design is now backfiring on vehicles due to safety and reliability issues. As the door handles rely entirely on electric motors and software control, passengers could become trapped inside if there’s a power failure, a system crash, or if they freeze in winter. Multiple incidents of ‘children trapped requiring window smashing’ have prompted regulatory investigations.
In September 2025, Tesla’s Chief Designer, Franz von Holzhausen, publicly admitted that the company is ‘redesigning’ the door handle system to make mechanical opening in emergencies more direct and reliable.
