Amid concerns about car safety, China will become the first country to prohibit hidden car door handles on all vehicles, with the ban taking effect in 2027, Reuters reported.
The new regulation will require manufacturers to equip cars with both interior and exterior mechanical door handles, with interior handles required to be clearly visible to occupants. According to The Guardian, the handle recess must measure at least 6 centimeters by 2 centimeters by 2.5 centimeters.
New vehicle models will be required to comply with the regulation starting Jan. 1, 2027, while models already in production will need to bring their door handle designs into compliance by Jan. 1, 2029.
Hidden door handle designs were first introduced by Tesla for its EVs. However, the American company said last September that it would redesign its door handles, amid heightened safety scrutiny, to combine electronic and manual release mechanisms.
