Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported today: "The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China announced a ban on new cars using hidden door handles, gradually phasing out this design popularized by Tesla."
This regulation will take effect from January 1, 2027, with the official reason being safety hazards.
The new regulations require that car door handles must be equipped with mechanical release devices inside and outside the vehicle; existing models will have a two-year grace period to comply."
Comment: The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's ban on new cars using purely hidden door handles is a practical move that prioritizes safety over aesthetics and technological appeal. This design, popularized by Tesla, may look simple and stylish, but it is extremely prone to failure in extreme situations such as power outages, collision fires, freezing cold, and body deformation, directly blocking escape and rescue routes, and posing a fatal risk. The new regulations mandating internal and external mechanical unlocking devices essentially set a safety red line for flashy designs, forcing the industry to return to the basic principle of "function prioritizing form," and also setting a benchmark for global automotive safety standards with life as the top priority.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1856143226532035/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.