We love to chide the fully flush and/or powered door handles for how annoying they are to use, but it turns out the issues go far beyond simple inconvenience. The Chinese government is now reportedly considering an industry-wide ban on the technology, citing serious safety hazards, poor reliability, and high costs for replacements for these flush door handles, according to a report by Mingjing Pro.
If the ban goes through, the powered and flush door handles will be phased out completely in July 2027, although a one-year transition period will also be given. The report states that regulatory bodies are currently finalising a draft of the regulation that will prohibit fully concealed door handles, allowing only semi-concealed and traditional door handles, which must include a mechanical backup.
Carmakers claim that flush door handles reduce drag—a reduction of just 0.01 Cd, for example, can save approximately 0.6 kWh per 100 km, which sounds important for maximising EV range. But it turns out the real-world savings are negligible.
Studies conducted have shown the actual drag reduction is only about 0.005-0.001 Cd, far less than the 0.03 Cd that manufacturers often claim. To add salt to the wound, the complicated and heavy mechanism required for these handles adds more weight to the car, further offsetting any tiny efficiency gains.
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Additionally, these flush door handles can also pose a major safety risk. During accidents involving a power loss or fire, the electric handles (both exterior and interior) can fail to deploy, hampering rescue efforts. According to data from the China Insurance Automotive Safety Index (C-IASI), vehicles with electronic door handles achieved only a 67% door pop-out success rate in side collisions, starkly contrasting with the 98% success rate of mechanical handles.
The data on accident rates is also concerning. The National Accident In-depth Investigation System (NAIS) reported a 47% year-on-year increase in accidents caused by door handle failures in 2024, with hidden handles accounting for a staggering 82% of those incidents.
Beyond accident scenarios, many have also raised alarms on the dangers of these door handles in everyday use. The Consumer Association noted a 132% year-on-year increase in complaints regarding children’s fingers being pinched by hidden door handles in 2024, including extreme cases of broken bones.
This isn’t the first time China has taken action against a popular vehicle feature on safety grounds. In July, for example, the government reportedly began restricting one-pedal driving modes in EVs, citing concerns over delayed driver response times in emergencies.
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