# China's banning Tesla-style door handles **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 4, 2026, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358 "2026-02-04T05:11:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/1 "2026-02-04T05:11:31Z")
[China’s banning hidden door handles.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/china-ban-hidden-car-door-063413837.html) > [@](#): > > [China](https://www.cnn.com/world/china?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_yahoo) is banning hidden door handles on all cars sold in the country, becoming the first country in the world to target the feature – which was popularized by Tesla but has for years drawn concern over safety risks. > > The hidden door handles are a signature feature of Tesla’s vehicles, and the ban comes as Elon Musk’s company reports declining worldwide sales and struggles with fierce competition in China, its second-biggest market. & > [@](#): > > In a statement released Monday, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology cited “the inconvenience with operating the exterior door handles and their inability to open after an accident,” and laid out specific requirements for how these handles should function. > > Exterior door handles should have enough space for a hand to operate its mechanical release from any angle. And interior handles should be “clearly visible from the corresponding occupant’s position,” it said. > > The new rules come into effect on January 1, 2027. I think I’m going to go with this is a good rule. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/2 "2026-02-04T06:09:09Z")
Good. I still can’t see a single good reason why Tesla had to use door handles like that, except a stubborn “We’re going to be different just to be different.” ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/3 "2026-02-04T06:27:58Z")
It is a good rule. Sleek design is one thing, and can be good. But those hidden handles is just stooopid. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/4 "2026-02-04T06:30:30Z")
That’s how I feel about those doors that open straight up to the sky (gull wings?). They might look cool, but what happens when they don’t work? ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/5 "2026-02-04T07:39:40Z")
This: > **[Billionaire Angela Chao, sister-in-law of Mitch McConnell, died after Tesla...](https://www.wlky.com/article/billionaire-angela-chao-mitch-mcconnell-died-tesla-into-pond/60199493)** > > She died on a Texas ranch last month after her car went into a pond and became submerged in water for an extended period of time She drove her Tesla into a pond and couldn’t get out after the electrical system died. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/6 "2026-02-04T07:58:37Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > That’s how I feel about those doors that open straight up to the sky (gull wings?). They might look cool, but what happens when they don’t work? [Looking them up](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gull-wing_door) they have some potential issues, but nothing as bad as the Tesla. And have actual benefits, like being able to open the door when something is closer to the car than a conventional door would allow. Also, unlike Musk and his Tesla some effort _was_ actually put into dealing with the potential problems with the design. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/7 "2026-02-04T11:23:05Z")
I fully agree with the engineering and crash safety benefits of stylistically obvious door handles that mechanically release all door locks and latches. But it is “convenient” that China is de facto banning the only non-Chinese made EVs in the world’s largest and fastest growing EV market. Not too different from e.g. the USA banning non-V8 engines just as the Japanese began making serious inroads against the US auto industry back in the 1970s. Which the Feds didn’t actually do. But which was talked about with a straight face as a necessary safety feature since the Japanese econo cars didn’t have enough acceleration for safely merging on US freeways. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/8 "2026-02-04T11:32:49Z")
According to the article Ilinked, the Tesla-style door handles are going to be banned for all vehicels, foreign and Chinese. > [@](#): > > Though Tesla is the company best-known for this type of door handle, other [electric vehicle makers in China have](https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/02/cars/china-ev-industry-success-shanghai-show-intl-hnk-dst?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_yahoo) adopted similar designs, including some models by heavyweights Xiaomi and Aion. > > The new policy, which does not single out any specific company, now demands that all cars sold in China must have a mechanical release feature for both interior and exterior door handles. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/9 "2026-02-04T11:42:30Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I fully agree with the engineering and crash safety benefits of stylistically obvious door handles that mechanically release all door locks and latches. > > But it is “convenient” that China is de facto banning the only non-Chinese made EVs in the world’s largest and fastest growing EV market. It’s also convenient for the Chinese that Musk makes terrible cars, so they _don’t_ actually have to choose between economic protectionism and plain old safety & quality. A weird sort of serendipity, there. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/10 "2026-02-04T11:46:54Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > According to the article Ilinked, the Tesla-style door handles are going to be banned for all vehicels, foreign and Chinese. I’d certainly expect that. What surprised me was learning that some major Chinese manufacturers had adopted a similar style. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/11 "2026-02-04T12:00:49Z")
The story of the Tesla door handles AIUI is that when Musk was shown preliminary sketches of what was to become the Model S, the artist just drew in the door handles as flat rectangles. Musk liked the sleek look so much that he insisted the actual handles be made to look like that. And they’ve been trouble ever since, along with Tesla’s ridiculously automated door-opening system. All the safety issues aside, Tesla owners in cold climates have reported the handles freezing over in winter. There may be a lot of cool stuff in Teslas, but there’s very little attention to practicality. So yes, I agree with China’s ruling. Musk will probably have a snit and refuse to ship any more Teslas to China. He doesn’t really care much any more and wants to concentrate on robotaxis and his stupid Optimus humanoid robot instead. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/12 "2026-02-04T12:02:14Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > What surprised me was learning that some major Chinese manufacturers had adopted a similar style Eh, I can imagine a segment of Chinese consumers wanting their EV to be as Tesla-like superfuturistic as possible and giving as much thought to collateral consequences as American buyers do. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/13 "2026-02-04T13:06:25Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > All the safety issues aside, Tesla owners in cold climates have reported the handles freezing over in winter. When I lived in ice country I had an early 2000s BMW 325. The door handles were the conventional sort you could get your fingers around. And to open the door you pulled the handle straight out from the vehicle with a slight upward angle. Which pretty well matched the natural approach angle of the arm of an adult. Very easy, very mechanical, very intuitive. But in any decent ice storm they’d freeze over solid and you could not get in. The keyhole would also ice over completely. The car did have electric unlock if your fob battery and car battery were in good shape. manys the night I got done with a trip at the airport parking lot and spent 10 minutes breaking enough ice off the door to get into the car to start the engine to finally begin the window defrosting / cabin heating process. Bottom line: mechanical doorhandles are not freeze-proof either. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/14 "2026-02-04T13:42:54Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > But it is “convenient” that China is de facto banning the only non-Chinese made EVs in the world’s largest and fastest growing EV market. The Chinese EVs I’ve been in copy Tesla as closely as possible, down to these doors. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/15 "2026-02-04T14:36:35Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > So yes, I agree with China’s ruling. Musk will probably have a snit and refuse to ship any more Teslas to China. He doesn’t really care much any more and wants to concentrate on robotaxis and his stupid Optimus humanoid robot instead. That would of course be a stupid thing to do, which is why I wouldn’t be surprised if he does. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/16 "2026-02-04T14:47:53Z")
> [@Tatterdemalion](#): > > She drove her Tesla into a pond and couldn’t get out after the electrical system died. Well, that’s not related to the exterior door handle design. If anyone’s interested, my Jaguar iPace also has “tesla” door handles. I think they’re pretty cool, but I don’t live in the land of ice. ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/17 "2026-02-04T15:08:48Z")
I thought the problem with Tesla door handles is that they are difficult and non-intuitive to operate if the power to the door handle is out. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/18 "2026-02-04T15:12:15Z")
The flush exterior door handles lower the CoD, probably by .00001% but they do make the car more aerodynamic. It’s the interior Tesla door handles that should be banned, & it looks like they are > [@](#): > > On the outside, electric door handles sit flush against the side of the door, requiring a user to press down on the handle to release the lever; _from the inside, riders press a button to open the door again_. > … > The new policy, which does not single out any specific company, now demands that all cars sold in China _must have a mechanical release feature for both interior_ and exterior door handles. there have already been [fatalities](https://abc7news.com/post/piedmont-cybertruck-crash-tesla-krysta-tsukahara-lawsuit-elon-musk/17927213/) because if the vehicle loses electrical power, like after a crash there’s a super sekret squirrel way of removing a panel & pull the hidden handle to open the door. I know about it generally but not the specifics & would hate to try to look them up while the car I’m in is on fire. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/19 "2026-02-04T15:36:57Z")
It sort of is, though. Stuff like handles and latches for cars should be mechanical and not dependent on the car’s electrical system to function, if only for safety reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/20 "2026-02-04T16:03:18Z")
> [@Tatterdemalion](#): > > I thought the problem with Tesla door handles is that they are difficult and non-intuitive to operate if the power to the door handle is out. One basic problem is that they are difficult to see, especially in low lighting. Think of Uber and Lyft and Grab. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358.md?page=2)