2 February report by BBC: "China has banned the use of 'hidden' door handles on electric vehicles, becoming the first country in the world to stop this controversial design. This minimalist design became popular due to Elon Musk's Tesla and was later adopted by many electric vehicle brands. Although these types of doors can reduce aerodynamic resistance, they are prone to failure in collision accidents."
Comments: China's pioneering ban on purely electrically controlled hidden door handles is a typical regulatory action that prioritizes safety and corrects industry's impatience with standards. It responds to the escape and rescue risks exposed by multiple accidents, and sets a precedent for global automotive safety regulations. Although this design became popular due to low air resistance and minimalist appearance, it frequently fails in scenarios such as collision-induced power outages and freezing temperatures, putting aesthetics and energy efficiency above life safety. The new regulation requires the retention of an independent mechanical opening structure, essentially setting "escapeability" as an unyielding bottom line for vehicles.
This move also marks China's transition from market leadership to standard leadership in the field of new energy vehicles. By using clear and implementable mandatory national standards, it forces automakers to return to the essence of safety and balance design with reliability. Compared to Europe and the United States, which are still at the stage of investigation and discussion, China's regulatory response is faster and stricter, protecting local consumers and unifying the safety baseline for exported models. In the long run, it will drive global automakers to upgrade door handle safety designs synchronously, ensuring that "electronic convenience" always obeys the "mechanical backup" safety logic.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1856243638839304/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author.