Overview
- China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology finalized rules on February 2 that take effect January 1, 2027, with a grace period to January 1, 2029 for models already approved.
- The regulation requires mechanical release functions on interior and exterior handles, post‑crash operability, a minimum exterior hand space of 60 mm × 20 mm × 25 mm, and clear interior markings of at least 1 cm × 0.7 cm.
- The mandate currently applies to electric vehicles, leaving non‑EVs exempt; about 60% of China’s top 100 new‑energy models previously used concealed handles.
- Affected lineups include Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y and vehicles from BMW, Nio, Li Auto, Xpeng, and Xiaomi, with redesigns expected to be costly, including estimates above 100 million yuan per model; some brands such as Geely and BYD have already reverted to exposed handles.
- Prompted by high‑profile crashes including Xiaomi SU7 incidents, the move is expected to influence global norms as U.S. and European authorities scrutinize similar designs, with an NHTSA probe underway and the SAFE Exit Act proposed in Congress.