China Eyes Banning Hidden Car Door Handles by 2027

Finally, this has come to light. For years, hidden or retractable door handles were sold as futuristic, sleek and aerodynamic. In recent years, these have become highly popular in high-end (read: premium) and fully electric (EV) offerings.

In reality, few drivers ever liked them, and engineers quietly questioned whether the promised efficiency gains were worth the risks. Now, regulators in China are preparing to draw the line, with plans to ban fully retractable door handles altogether.

According to a report by CarNewsChina, discussions are already underway for new standards that would outlaw this design feature. Semi-retractable and conventional handles will still be allowed, but only if they include mechanical redundancy that are guaranteed to work and function in emergencies.

A draft regulation is expected to be finalised this month, with a one-year transition period. If approved, enforcement would begin in July 2027, meaning no new cars sold in China could feature fully hidden handles after that date.

The move would end one of the most recognisable styling trends of the new energy vehicle (NEV) era. Originally marketed as aerodynamic breakthroughs, retractable handles barely deliver on their promise.

In fact, engineers reportedly calculate that even under optimal conditions, the drag reduction amounts to just 0.005–0.01 Cd, resulting in negligible ‘savings’ of up to 0.6 kWh/100 km. Worse, the e-motors and support structures for this feature adds up to 8 kg of weight, often cancelling out the aforementioned gains.

If the efficiency benefits are marginal, the downsides are not. These handles cost about three times more than mechanical ones and fail at rates up to eight times higher. One major EV brand admitted that broken door handles account for 12% of all repair cases, often requiring complete replacements.

Insurance and crash test data paint an even bleaker picture: hidden handles malfunction in accidents, freeze in cold climates, short-circuit in heavy rain, and trap occupants during emergencies.

The safety consequences are severe. In 2024, crash tests by the China Insurance Automotive Safety Index found electronic door handles only managed a 67% success rate in side-impact pop-outs, compared with 98% for mechanical designs.

The National Accident In-depth Investigation System reported a 47% increase in incidents caused by handle failures last year, with hidden handles responsible for more than four out of five of those cases. Even children have suffered injuries, with the Consumer Association logging a 132% rise in finger-pinch incidents, including broken bones.

Within the automotive industry, some brands are steering clear of this. Volkswagen has stuck to semi-retractable designs. Audi has engineered emergency pull cords into its new models. GWM’s chairman Wei Jianjun has been openly scathing, calling the feature heavy, unsafe and pointless for aerodynamics.

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) began revising national safety standards in May, specifically to address the risks. 

Door handles are only the first target. Broader concerns are mounting over the industry’s obsession with design gimmicks such as touchscreen-only controls, panoramic roofs, and electronic mirrors that often compromise usability and safety.

Moreover, China is not alone in pushing back this feature. From 2026, Euro NCAP will deny its coveted five-star ratings to vehicles that hide critical functions like hazard lights, wipers and horns inside the infotainment unit.

The message is clear: convenience, safety and common sense must come before design theatre. The ban, if finalised, will close the chapter on one of the industry’s most divisive fads.