China just did something that makes good sense: it told automakers their car doors must work like… doors. Starting in 2027, vehicles sold in China will be required to have mechanical exterior door handles that can be opened from either side, even after a crash or battery failure. No hidden sensors. No software. Just a handle you pull. In an era of flush panels and spaceship aesthetics, this feels almost rebellious.
Embarrassing Recall: Ineos Grenadier Doors Won’t Stay Closed
The issue affects 7,022 Grenadiers manufactured between July 6, 2023, and April 19, 2024.
China Targets Electronic Door Handles After Deadly Failures
The regulation is a direct response to the rise of electrically powered, retractable door handles, a design trend popularized by Tesla and now embraced across the industry for aerodynamic gains and futuristic curb appeal. The Problem?
When Electronics Fail, So Can Exits
A September investigative report from Bloomberg News documented cases where Tesla doors became impossible to open from the outside after crashes, forcing first responders to break windows to rescue occupants. In this 2025 study, Bloomberg identified 15 deaths tied to incidents where doors would not open, including situations where people were trapped inside. Tesla hasn’t publicly commented on the new Chinese rule, though its chief designer previously told Bloomberg the company was working on redesigning its door handles.
The Safest Electric SUVs You Can Buy In 2025
Here are ten of the safest electric SUVs that come jam-packed with driving aids and reinforced bodies.
NHTSA Is Already Looking Into Similar Problems
Back in the U.S., the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into exterior door handle failures on 2021 Model Y vehicles. The agency is also reviewing complaints involving interior door releases on Model 3s, which rely on a hard-to-find manual backup.
NHTSA doesn’t comment on open investigations, but it has previously influenced recalls across multiple brands for electronic handle defects. And Tesla isn’t alone here. According to Consumer Reports, Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Fiat, Ford, Genesis, Lexus, Lincoln, Maserati, and Volvo all use some form of electronic door handles in certain models.
Here’s How Tesla Manufactures The Cybertruck’s ‘Bulletproof’ Doors
The Tesla Cybertruck is reputed for its stainless-steel frame and bulletproof doors. Here’s how they’re manufactured.
China’s New Rule Is Simple: Doors Must Open, Period
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology made its position crystal clear in a recent statement: vehicles must be designed so users can mechanically open exterior doors, even during disasters like battery fires.
Interior handles get similar treatment. Manual releases must be visible, unobstructed, and easy to access. No removing speaker grilles. No fishing for cables in a panic. This whole thing might make you think only of Tesla, but in China, there are many EV brands we don’t have. In fact, this comes after a fatal crash involving a vehicle from Xiaomi brought renewed attention to the dangers of inoperable doors in EVs.
The new regulation will affect virtually every automaker selling vehicles in China, including global brands, forcing redesigns across future model lines. But it won’t directly impact U.S.-market cars, largely because Chinese vehicles are effectively blocked stateside by tariffs and technology restrictions. Still, the implications and the reasons behind all of this are hard to ignore.
All The Chaos Hitting Tesla At Once
If the trim isn’t falling off your Cybertrucks, banks are downgrading your stock and anonymous leaks are pinging the White House
What’s Next?
We’re already watching auto-start/stop systems go after years of annoying drivers. Now China is reminding the industry that safety tech doesn’t need to be clever. It needs to work. Sometimes progress isn’t a glowing touchscreen or a disappearing door handle. Sometimes it’s just making sure you can get out of your car.