China Implements Ban on Tesla-Style Hidden Door Handles to Enhance Vehicle Safety

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Introduction to China's New Vehicle Safety Regulations

China has moved to ban one of the most iconic Tesla vehicle features in order to address vehicle safety concerns. New safety regulations published by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology state that cars sold in China will be required to have mechanical releases on their door handles. The rules, which go into effect on January 1, 2027, will ban hidden, electronically activated door handles.

Details of the Regulatory Requirements

Under the new rules, each vehicle door, except for the tailgate, will need to be equipped with a manually-released external door handle, and vehicles will be required to have a mechanical release on the interior. China is the first country to implement such a ban. While the feature was made popular with Teslas, Chinese competitors, including Xiaomi, have adopted the design.

Reasons Behind the Ban

The ruling followed high-profile incidents in which power failures were suspected to have prevented the doors from opening, leaving people trapped and unable to escape or be rescued. Two of the incidents included fiery crashes involving Xiaomi Corp. EVs.

China is shifting from being just the largest EV market to being a rule-setter for how new vehicle technologies are regulated. By moving first, Beijing can use its huge domestic market to lock in safety standards that both Chinese and foreign automakers must follow at home — and that may ultimately travel with Chinese EV exports and influence global norms. — Bill Russo

US Regulatory Context and Investigations

In December, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), which is under the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), opened a defect probe into the Tesla Model 3 sedan's emergency door release controls. The investigation reportedly included approximately 179,071 model year 2022 vehicles. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 206 lays out requirements for vehicle door locks and door retention components to help prevent occupants from being ejected during a crash. A representative for NHTSA pointed out that while FMVSS No. 206 does not have specific requirements mandating a manual door release if power is lost, failing to provide a reasonable way for occupants to enter or exit a vehicle could be considered a safety defect and lead to a recall. However, the opening of a defect petition does not automatically mean that a recall will be issued.