China Says Goodbye to This One Oddly-Specific Vehicle Feature — Are U.S. Lawmakers Next?

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Handles exist for a reason. They offer a solid grip and a functional way to open doors, especially on vehicles with their sleek, aerodynamic exterior surfacing. At some point, modernists decided the handles were optional. Quite famously, the Tesla models feature near seamless handle designs, but other automakers have begun using the same style of handles in their vehicles.

While it might seem like a clever aesthetic at first, upon closer inspection, one can quickly discern the problems with these types of handles. They could make the cars themselves more difficult to open, worse yet, during an emergency. Tesla, for example, hides the rear-seat emergency manual door release behind a panel and tucked inside a cubby. When you’re flustered, trying to get out quickly, like if the vehicle plunges into deep water or is involved in an accident, the handle is tough to locate.

That problem was concerning enough that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into Tesla’s design. But regardless of how you feel about it, like it or not, there are certainly safety implications. That’s why China, of all places, has now made them illegal starting January 1, 2027.

China Is Banning Flush and Hidden Door Handles

Reported by CNN, the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is banning the newly popular design without specifying any one company or brand. They haven’t singled out Tesla, or Rivian, or any other companies that employ these styles of door handles.

Yet, under the new regulations, all exterior door handles must have enough space for a hand to operate a mechanical release, and from any angle. You have to be able to slip your door under the latch somehow and physically. It’s not just exterior door handles, however. Interior handles must also be “clearly visible,” to occupants inside, and they must remain so when those passengers are seated normally. In other words, no more hidden and potentially dangerous handles.

But while China may be the first, they probably won’t be the last to make this kind of change. U.S. lawmakers are already considering similar bans. The Illinois Second District Representative, Robin Kelly, has proposed legislation that addresses Tesla’s handles and those like it.

It’s called the Securing Accessible Functional Emergency Exit Act (SAFE Exit Act), and it expressly calls for a clearly labeled and visible mechanical latch for passengers to use in an emergency. It also calls for the exterior of the vehicle to have similar access for first responders, most importantly if the cabin loses power. The announcement for that bill also cites at least 15 deaths related to Tesla doors that wouldn’t open after car crashes. Moreover, that announcement also references a consumer petition with over 35,000 signatures calling for laws related to the change.

The bill is currently a proposal and it may be some time before anything happens if it is eventually passed. But it does help highlight the need for further legislation and a better understanding of the problem.

What Other Vehicles Are Relevant

Tesla models S, 3, X, and Y use similarly flush and minimal door handle designs. But brands like Rivian, Lucid, Fisker, Lincoln, Dodge, Hyundai, and Cadillac do on select models, as well. The biggest concern is when the handles are electronically managed because low voltage, electrical shorts or even extreme temperatures can cause problems opening the doors.

Consumer Reports actually has a tutorial article on escaping your vehicle when the electronic door handle fails. In most cases, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the make and model of your vehicle and locate the manual door release — which varies from brand to brand. Obviously, you’ll want to make sure you know exactly where it is before something happens. You don’t want to be investigating after a sudden crash or during an emergency.

It’s a good idea to visually show and explain the manual release to family and friends that ride in your vehicle, as well. Being proactive about it could save some lives.

Car Scanners Might Reveal Malfunctioning Vehicle Concerns

Most EVs and electric brands use a proprietary connector besides OBD2, so you can’t always use a diagnostic scanner to find faults in them. But regular vehicles built after the early 90s do include an OBD2 port. That’s a great way to test out vehicle systems and find existing problems. Like when there are faulty “door ajar” warnings, or other alerts for unauthorized entry and vehicle safety. You can plug in a handheld OBD2 scanner like the Innova 5610 to check warnings and other code indicators.

Sure, sometimes they might be due to a fuse or electric fault somewhere, but it’s always a good idea to double check. The good news is that with most conventional vehicles, these faults will have nothing to do with the door opening or closing — you should still be able to manually open your doors in an emergency. That may or may not be the case for modern EVs, especially those that use electronic locks.

Hopefully, growing consumer sentiment to the issue and careful legislation will encourage EV makers to change the handle designs to safer specifications going forward.

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