Chinese regulators are planning major changes to the automotive industry that will directly affect the design and safety of modern electric cars. According to unofficial information, a ban on fully retractable door handles, which have become a key design element in many electric vehicles, is currently being discussed. The main reason for this initiative is the serious safety concerns and low reliability of these mechanisms.
The ban is expected to affect only fully retractable handles. Semi-retractable and traditional mechanical designs will remain allowed, but will have to have a mechanical backup mechanism to ensure reliable operation. The final draft of the new door handle standards is expected to be ready this month, and the rules themselves will come into force in July 2027. Manufacturers will have a one-year transition period, after which they will no longer be able to sell new cars with fully retractable handles on the Chinese market. In addition, a requirement for automatic door unlocking in emergency situations, such as a crash, is also being discussed.
Questionable effectiveness, reliability - at risk
Despite their futuristic look and supposed aerodynamic advantages, retractable handles have a number of significant drawbacks. Engineers have calculated that the improvement in drag coefficient often attributed to these handles is only 0.01 Cd, which equates to a saving of about 0.6 kWh per 100 km - a practically insignificant value. According to SAE, the actual aerodynamic improvement for a sedan is between 0.005 and 0.01 Cd, which is significantly less than the manufacturers' claimed 0.03 Cd. In addition, the additional 7-8 kg of electric motors and mechanisms can completely neutralize any aerodynamic advantage.
Dangerous and expensive to repair
In addition to questionable efficiency, these handles are significantly more expensive and unreliable. They cost three times more than their mechanical counterparts and are eight times more prone to failure. A leading electric car manufacturer reports that door handle defects account for as much as 12% of all repairs performed, often requiring expensive replacement of the entire assembly.
A number of critical incidents have also been recorded. In 2024, passengers in Changchun were locked in their cars due to "door freezing", and during heavy rains in Guangdong province, electric door handles shorted out, forcing people to break windows to escape.
Shocking crash test results
Crash tests conducted by the China Automobile Safety Index (C-IASI) revealed even more alarming data. Cars with electronic door handles managed to open their doors only 67% of the time in side impacts, compared to 98% for mechanical handles. The National Accident Investigation System (NAIS) reported a 47% increase in accidents caused by problems with the handles, with 82% of these cases related to hidden structures. The consumer association notes a 132% increase in complaints, including cases of children's fingers being pinched, leading to fractures.
Uncomfortable and dangerous in cold weather
Consumers often complain about the inconvenience of using hidden handles, especially when they are not familiar with the car. Extreme weather conditions, such as sub-zero temperatures, significantly increase the risk of malfunction. Some manufacturers have already taken a more cautious approach. For example, Volkswagen uses semi-retractable handles, which combine aesthetics with safety and practicality. In the new FAW-Audi A5L and Q6L e-tron models, the semi-retractable handles are equipped with microswitches, and in the event of a collision, a red cable automatically pulls the handle outwards to provide access for rescuers.
The Chinese initiative is part of a broader review of national standards launched by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) in May 2025. The aim of these changes is to improve vehicle safety and protect passengers, especially with the growing popularity of electric cars. The move is expected to have a major impact on future automotive design, limiting the use of all-electronic solutions in critical systems such as door handles.