A look back at a transformative year in China's auto industry
Mechanical door handles obligatory, says ministry
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released a proposed mandatory national standard on the safety performance of car door handles on Dec 16, requiring each door except the tailgate to have an exterior handle with a mechanical release function and adequate hand-operable space. The proposal aims to address safety concerns over hidden handles used on many new energy vehicles in China, which is scheduled to be implemented from Jan 1, 2027. It is stipulated in the proposal that car doors should provide at least 60 millimeters by 20 mm by 25 mm of hand-operable space. It also requires every passenger door, excluding the tailgate, to be equipped with an exterior handle capable of opening the door without tools even if the locking system remains engaged or the vehicle's battery catches fire.
