The Chinese government has introduced a strong safety regulation that virtually prohibits the use of “embedded handles” in electric vehicles for the first time in the world. The measure is based on the judgment that Tesla’s popular embedded handles are an obstacle to saving lives in emergency situations such as fires.
According to Bloomberg News and China’s economic media CheilJaekyung, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announced a new safety regulation the day before requiring the installation of internal and external mechanical door opening devices (levers) for all new vehicles sold. The regulation will take effect on January 1, 2027. For models that have already been approved by regulatory authorities or are in the final stages of release, the design can be changed by January 2029.
According to the new regulations, the outer handle of the vehicle door should have sufficient hand operating space under any condition. At least 6 cm wide, 2 cm long, and 2.5 cm wide, there should be a concave space, or a handle of the same size should protrude. The door handle should be intuitively identified by the passenger inside, and it is mandatory to attach a standardized sign explaining how to open the door in an emergency.
The move was a catalyst for recent casualties in China. In particular, in March and October last year, Xiaomi’s electric sedan “SU7” caught fire, but public opinion on electric vehicle safety worsened as the power was cut off and the door was not opened, causing passengers to die without escaping. According to reports, about 60% of the top 100 new energy vehicle models sold in China currently have embedded handles. As a result, major automakers such as Tesla (Model Y, Model 3), BMW (iX3), Nio (ES8), Rio (i8), and Xiaopeng (P7) are expected to make major design changes. Experts believe that the regulation will affect the global automobile industry as a whole. Bill Russo, head of Shanghai-based consulting firm Automobility, told Bloomberg, “China has entered the stage of setting technology regulatory standards beyond just the largest market,” adding, “This standard, which has been confirmed as a weapon of China’s huge domestic market, is likely to spread to global standards through vehicles for export in the future.”
Manufacturers are also busy moving around. Geely’s Galaxy M9 and BYD’s Seal 06 are already returning to the existing protruding handle method. Tesla, which led the trend of embedded handles, is also expected to change the handle design. A Tesla official told Bloomberg that the company will make necessary changes for the Chinese market and is considering programming that automatically unlocks the battery when the battery voltage is lowered.
Meanwhile, in addition to the door handle regulations, the Chinese authorities plan to strengthen the acceleration limit of electric vehicles and the supervision of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
JENNIFER KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
