China has set January 2027 for all cars in the country to return to mechanical car handles, a sharp shift from the now popular retractable or hidden handles common with many Electric Vehicles (EVs).
Tesla Model S started the hidden or retractable handles which most Chinese EV manufacturers have adopted over the years.
However, in a new policy borne out of concerns, all cars in China by January 2027 will now be required to be equipped with “clearly visible manual release systems inside and out.”
Official said that the new policy responds to new safety concerns after a series of crashes and power failures in electric vehicles where electronic or flush door handles malfunctioned and trapped occupants inside, or even complicated rescue efforts at accident scenes.
Chinese has now mandated all cars without mechanical handles to be updated by the 1st of January 2027, while all previously approved models must comply by January 2029.
The policy also requires a defined “recessed space” for grasping the handle and “visible interior signage showing occupants how to open doors manually.
The new Chinese Safety-first policy is expected to influence future developments in EV manufacturing.