Flush, hidden, or touch-based handles have long been marketed as futuristic and sleek, especially on electric vehicles. But now, regulators in China want to make sure those handles don’t come at the cost of safety.
To fix this, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has released a draft rule. It says every car door must include both inside and outside handles with a manual release, so they can still work in an emergency.
The draft is open for public feedback until November 22, but it’s already getting a lot of attention from everywhere. Here’s what is happening?
Door Handles Are In The Spotlight
Hidden door handles are popular among numerous automakers. Tesla, Xiaomi, and several other EV makers use them to achieve cleaner lines and better aerodynamics.
In most cases, the handles would pop out or respond to a light tap or press, but they rely on the vehicle’s electronics to function properly. If the system fails or if the car is locked, the handles remain concealed. Here’s where the problem starts.
That design choice has sparked real-world safety concerns. Multiple accidents were reported where hidden handles could not be opened quickly because of malfunctions or electrical failures.
In some tragic cases, people were trapped inside while rescuers struggled to open the doors from outside. Such incidents have made the public more aware of the dangers that come from choosing style over practicality.
MIIT’s draft rules aim to prevent all such door handle issues. The rules are simple: car doors can always be opened by hand in an emergency. No condition applied, whether it’s a crash, a fire, or a battery issue.
No tools, no electronics, just a simple handle that lets people out.
Draft’s Key Requirements
The draft spells out detailed technical standards for how automakers must design their door handles. These rules are meant to remove any guesswork in an emergency.
Passengers or rescuers shouldn’t have to search for a release button or wonder how to operate a futuristic latch. They should be able to reach, pull, and get out. Among the most important points:
- Every passenger door needs an external handle with a mechanical release (trunk lids are not included).
- In case of battery fires or failures, non-collision side doors must still open by hand from the outside.
- Enough hand space is required—at least 60 x 20 x 25 mm (2.4 x 0.8 x 1 inches)—so handles can be gripped easily.
- Inside mechanical handles are a must. If the car uses electronic buttons or touch sensors, a backup lever must also be provided.
- Handles must be simple to find and use. Internal handles should be within 300 mm (11.8 inches) of the door edge, clearly visible, and marked with warning signs or instructions.
$TSLA 🇨🇳 The MIIT China has released a draft for public comments on the “Safety Technical Requirements for Automotive Door Handles”, explicitly banning fully hidden exterior door handles and requiring both exterior and interior handles to have mechanical release functions 🔥
Key… pic.twitter.com/06GDtXMxh1
— Ming (@tslaming) September 24, 2025
What It Means For Automakers?
For automakers, this draft could force a rethink of design priorities. Tesla’s flush handles have been a hallmark of its minimalist philosophy. But even Tesla has faced criticism after reports of the handle malfunctioning.
In one such case investigated by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, parents had to break windows to free kids from a Model Y.
Tesla’s chief designer, Franz von Holzhausen, has acknowledged the issue and says they’re working on new designs, which will now incorporate both electronics and a mechanical backup. This marks a big change for Tesla, which usually avoids adding extra parts to keep its design clean.
Other EV brands may also have to adjust. Xiaomi and Aito, owned by Huawei, both use hidden handles, and now will likely need to redesign them to comply with the proposed rules.
Where Tesla Went Wrong Chasing Over-Engineered Door Handles?
Tesla’s obsession with minimalism pushed the brand to reinvent something as simple as a door handle, turning it into a sleek future feature. Something that aligned with the brand image, flaunting a flush mechanism that blended with the vehicle.
While the flush handles looked impressive, they relied entirely on electronics, leaving no easy backup in emergencies. Real-world incidents exposed the flaw, leaving owners and even children trapped inside.
By prioritizing futuristic looks over instinctive usability, Tesla overlooked a basic truth—safety should never depend solely on style or software. As one Reddit user put it, “I’m 100% on this. The Model 3 is okay, as it has the manual hand latch under the door. But the Cybertruck is an absolute death trap.”
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Bottomline
China’s draft rules make it clear that safety comes first, even in the age of overly glazed futuristic vehicle designs. Automakers will now have to strike a balance between style and reliability to ensure that every passenger can exit the vehicle safely in an emergency. Tesla would need to step up with the redesign following the rule.
The bigger question remains—should this rule become a global standard for all automakers?
