KATHMANDU: China has released a draft regulation on vehicle door handle safety for public comment. The draft is prepared by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). It sets new requirements that could reshape how carmakers design door handles. Feedback will be collected until November 22, 2025.
The draft is titled “Technical Requirements for Safety of Automobile Door Handles.” It focuses on ensuring that door handles remain usable even if a vehicle loses power or is involved in an accident.
Key points include:
- Every door, except the trunk, must have an external handle with a mechanical release.
- In case of battery fires or thermal events, non-collision side doors must be openable from outside without tools.
- External handles must allow at least 60 x 20 x 25 mm of hand space for operation.
- All doors must also have internal mechanical handles that work without tools.
- If electric handles are installed inside, a mechanical backup must be provided.
- Internal handles should be clearly visible, easy to identify and positioned within 300 mm of the door edge.
These rules aim to improve passenger safety, standardize handle placement and reduce risks linked to flush or fully electric handles commonly seen in modern EVs according to Chinese media.
