Overview
- The MIIT rule takes effect January 1, 2027, with already‑approved models given until January 1, 2029 to comply.
- New standards require exterior and interior mechanical releases, a recessed exterior handhold of at least 6 cm by 2 cm, and interior signage of at least 1 cm by 0.7 cm showing how to open the door.
- Handles and latches must remain operable after collisions or electrical failure, including battery thermal‑runaway scenarios; the tailgate is exempt.
- Roughly 60% of China’s top‑selling new‑energy vehicles use concealed handles, affecting models such as Tesla’s Model 3/Y, BMW’s iX3, and vehicles from Nio, Li Auto, Xpeng, and Xiaomi, with redesigns estimated at over 100 million yuan per model.
- Analysts expect global ripple effects as automakers standardize designs; U.S. regulators are probing Tesla’s handles and lawmakers have proposed the SAFE Exit Act to set federal rules.