China is mandating the return of the mechanical door handle

One of the biggest design trends since the advent of electric cars was the "hidden" or "flush" door handle. These handles sit flat against the car to make it look sleek and help it cut through the air better. They look cool for sure, but they have caused a major safety headache. If an EV loses power after a crash, the electronic handles might not pop out, leaving people trapped inside.

China has decided that looking cool isn't worth the risk. The government just approved a new law called GB 48001-2026. The new rule says that every new passenger car must have a way to open the doors manually. This means even if the computer fails or the battery dies, a person can still pull a handle and get out. The law officially kicks in on January 1, 2027, and it will change how almost every electric car is built.

The new rules are very specific about how strong these handles need to be. It is not enough to just have a backup cable hidden in a secret compartment. The law says the mechanical link must be able to survive a lot of pressure - the handle itself must withstand a force of 500 Newtons without breaking. That is about the same as hanging a 112 lb weight from the handle.

Manufacturers must also make sure there is enough room for a human hand to grab the handle, even during an emergency like a fire. The exterior handles need a space that is at least 2.36 inches wide and 0.79 inches high. This ensures that rescuers wearing thick gloves can still get a strong grip and pull the door open to save someone.

Inside the car, the rules are just as strict. Have you ever been in a new EV and struggled to find the button to get out? That won't be allowed anymore. Every side door must have at least one manual handle that works independently. This handle must be easy to see and sit within 11.8 inches of the edge of the door.

To make things even clearer, car brands must add permanent signs. These signs must be at least 3.94 inches by 2.76 inches and show exactly how to use the handle. The instructions must be in Chinese or use easy-to-understand pictures. The letters on these instructions must be at least 0.24 inches tall so they are easy to read in a panic.

The new standard is a huge deal for car companies like Tesla, Nio, and Xiaomi. Right now, about 60% of the most popular EVs in China use hidden handles. Models like the Tesla Model 3 and the Xiaomi SU7 will likely need a redesign to stay on the market, although Tesla's door handles don't have the electronic pop-up mechanism - this part is mechanical. Some cars have "emergency" cables now, but many of those are hidden under carpets or in spots that are hard to reach.

The change will happen in stages. Any company asking for permission to sell a brand-new car model must follow most of these rules starting July 1, 2026. By the summer of 2027, every single car being sold must meet the full standard. This gives engineers a little bit of time to fix their designs, but not much.

You might think this only matters in China, but China is the biggest market for electric cars in the world. When China sets a rule like this, car companies often change their designs for the whole world to save money. We will likely see fewer "disappearing" handles on cars in the United States and Europe soon, too.

In the end, this is a win for common sense. Technology is great, but it should never make it harder to get out of a car during an emergency. By moving away from purely electronic doors, the industry is making sure that "high-tech" also means "high-safety."

Via