* Part of a Newsis article is quoted.
https://v.daum.net/v/20260205005128070
https://www.newsis.com/view/NISX20260204_0003501905
The Chinese government has introduced the world's first safety regulation that effectively bans 'flush-mounted door handles,' which are used in electric vehicles, citing the high risk of human casualties in emergencies such as fires.
On February 2 (local time), China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced through social networking services (SNS) that it will mandate the installation of mechanical door opening devices on vehicles sold from 2027. The regulation will come into effect on January 1 next year.
According to the new standards, electric vehicles sold in China must have a concave space with a minimum size of 6 cm horizontally, 2 cm vertically, and 2.5 cm wide, or be designed so that a door handle of the same specifications protrudes outward. Even for models that have already received design approval or are about to be launched, the design must be changed by January 2029.
Bill Russo, CEO of automotive consulting firm Automobility, said, "China is transforming from a simple largest market into a rule maker," and predicted that "safety standards based on the Chinese domestic market will eventually spread globally."
[The rest of the content is omitted]
* Similar Bloomberg article
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-02/china-bans-hidden-car-door-handles-in-world-first-safety-policy
* Car door handle designs prohibited / permitted in China
