China Sets New Global Safety Standard: Mandatory Mechanical Door Opening Systems for Electric Vehicles

China has announced that, starting from 2027, all electric vehicles (EVs) will be required to have mechanical door-opening systems that function both from the inside and the outside. This regulation directly targets flush electronic door handles, which became widely recognized through models produced by companies such as Tesla, following fatal accidents linked to emergency access issues. The new rule is expected to affect many leading EV models currently in mass production. Previously, NCAP had also stated that such door-handle designs would be assessed negatively in safety evaluations. China becoming the first country to impose such a ban as a global rule-setter in automotive safety standards demonstrates that the country is no longer only a manufacturing hub, but also an actor shaping global automotive regulations.