China wants to ban a trend in electric cars... and this could affect your next car
It is one of the design details that has managed to impose itself among luxury brands and more general ones. One of those that adds so much to the design, but which in China they are studying whether to veto or not, as it compromises passenger safety.
The design of cars is one of the critical points for manufacturers. All are under strong pressure from competition, which they are willing to surpass by pushing the limits of safety regulations in the different countries where their new models will be sold. The problem arises when certain systems or details are adopted that can seriously compromise passenger safety.
And that is what is happening in China, which for some time has been studying the possibility of banning integrated door handles. A trend that debuted with electric cars, but has spread like wildfire. Visually, they are very attractive, as they are part of the overall design and do not clutter it, while also helping to reduce drag and fuel consumption. All advantages, although it also has some drawbacks.
China cares about the safety of its citizens and holds brands accountable
And these are directly related to electric handles. No one explains how to open the car when the battery runs out, something that has already happened in the United States, where Mustang Mach-E users sued Ford based on the significant difficulty of opening the doors in case of a power outage.
Such circumstances seriously compromise safety, and in China they are taking this very seriously. So much so that they are considering banning them starting July 2027, and not just for new cars coming to market. The regulation from the Asian giant would affect those already sold, which would need to be adapted. The Chinese have not detected a significant number of cases related to electric handles, but have drawn on a report from the German ADAC that showed serious concern.
There will be no cost savings; brands will bear the brunt of China's decision
One of the clear consequences is that brands will be forced to make an extraordinary investment to face this significant expense, which will likely impact prices. Whether they will be removed from cars intended for other markets is a mystery, but the decision made in China could also be transferred to Europe.
It would be logical, from a cost-saving perspective, although for certain markets they could even continue to offer electric retractable handles as an option. In truth, it is not one of the most attractive features on long lists, and it will not be one of the most demanded, so brands will find a way to recover the investment made.
