AssetID: 55435774
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: China Bans Hidden Car Door Handles Over Safety Fears
Caption: China Bans Hidden Car Door Handles Over Safety Fears. China has banned hidden car door handles over safety concerns, becoming the first country to prohibit the design that had been popularised by Elon Musk’s Tesla. The move came as electric vehicles faced growing scrutiny from safety regulators, following a series of deadly incidents. In China, two fatal crashes involving Xiaomi electric vehicles raised concerns that power failures may have prevented doors from being opened. Under the new rules, vehicles can only be sold if they include mechanical door releases on both the inside and outside. The regulations, issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, are set to take effect on 1 January 2027. Manufacturers will be required to add recessed exterior handles and clear interior signage showing how doors can be opened. Carmakers with already approved models are given two additional years to update designs. Hidden handles had been widely used across China’s new energy vehicle market, appearing in around 60% of top-selling models, according to China Daily. While the ban applies only to China, its global impact is expected to be significant. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Motoring,China,bans,hidden,car door handles,safety fears,fatal,accidents,growing scrutiny,safety regulations,deadly incidents,requirements,EVs,mechanical,door releases,inside,outside
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