Chinese regulators are preparing to ban fully concealed door handles in the automotive industry due to safety risks and functional issues. If this decision goes into effect, it will end this design trend, particularly common in electric vehicles.
China to Ban Concealed Door Handles in Cars
An R&D expert for an automaker speaking to Chinese sources stated that fully concealed door handles will be explicitly banned under the new regulations. Semi-concealed and traditional door handles will continue to be used, but they will be required to have a mechanical backup system.
The draft mandatory standards for door handles will be finalized this month. The current proposal outright bans fully concealed door handles and provides a one-year transition period. The ban is expected to take effect in July 2027. New vehicles sold after that date will not feature this type of door handle. It is also rumored that the regulations will also include requirements for automatic door unlocking in unusual situations such as accidents.
Concealed door handles, which are preferred in today’s electric vehicles for their aesthetic and aerodynamic benefits, offer very few advantages, according to engineering data. Engineers state that the 0.01 Cd reduction in drag coefficient provided by concealed handles saves only 0.6 kWh of energy per 100 km. This difference is negligible for vehicles charged at home. Furthermore, the 7-8 kilograms of additional weight these mechanisms add completely negates this benefit.
Electronic door handles are three times more expensive than mechanical handles, and their failure rate is eight times higher. Ineffective electronic handles, such as in cases of power loss, cold weather, or fire, hinder occupants’ escape and prevent rescue teams from responding.
In China Automotive Safety Index crash tests, electronic door handles were found to deploy 67% of the time in side collisions, while mechanical handles deployed 98% of the time. The National Accident In-Depth Investigation System reported a 47% increase in door handle-related accidents by 2024, with 82% of these involving concealed handles.
Some manufacturers are being more cautious in this regard. Brands like Volkswagen consistently favor semi-concealed handles. FAW-Audi’s new A5L and Q6L e-tron models feature semi-concealed handles that allow rescue crews to open the door in the event of a collision, thanks to a red string that extends outward.
In addition to door handles, other controversial design trends such as full touchscreens, panoramic glass roofs, and electronic side mirrors have also drawn criticism. Euro NCAP announced that, from 2026, it will no longer award five-star ratings to vehicles that integrate critical functions like turn signals, hazard warning lights, horns, and wipers solely into the touchscreen.
