China EV Retractable Door Handle Ban 2027: Tesla's Aesthetic Faces a Safety Reality Check

Sleek door handles are saving battery life but costing human lives, and China is finally pulling the plug. Tesla's signature flush-mounted door handles, once a symbol of futuristic design, are about to become illegal in the world's largest auto market unless they get a mechanical makeover.

China EV Retractable Door Handle Ban 2027: Mechanical Mandate

Under new draft rules released by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), all vehicles weighing under 3.5 tons must feature interior and exterior handles with a mechanical emergency release. Effective January 1, 2027, this move essentially bans purely electronic retractable door handles on all new cars released in the country.

Tesla in the Crosshairs

While companies like BYD also use these handles, Tesla is the most exposed. Every model in Elon Musk's lineup features flush handles. If Tesla wants to stay in the Chinese market, it has roughly one year to redesign its entire production line. It's not just a Chinese problem either; U.S. regulators are currently investigating safety concerns after reports of first responders having to smash windows to rescue children trapped inside powered-down vehicles.