New Safety Standards for Hidden Door Handles in China Enhance Passenger Protection

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in China has initiated a project to revise the national mandatory standard concerning the technical requirements for the safety of car door handles. This comes amid the increasing use of hidden and electronic handles in modern models. The aim is to enhance safety during emergencies by adopting precise engineering and testing requirements in collaboration with the China Automotive Technology & Research Center, Geely Research Institute, and Li Auto. The new standard seeks to blend elegant design with assured safety functions, ensuring reliable operation even during power outages or severe impacts.

Technical and Design Background

The design of hidden handles has gained momentum in recent years to enhance the exterior's aerodynamic silhouette and provide a futuristic look to vehicles. This technology relies on electronic mechanisms that emerge from the vehicle body when approached or pressed at a specific point, reducing air resistance and highlighting dynamic lines. However, this trend revealed several gaps due to the complexity of electronic systems and inadequate mechanical backup measures, necessitating a comprehensive review of safety requirements to ensure no malfunctions occur during emergencies.

Discovered Challenges and Risks

Initial findings indicated a decline in the handle's ability to withstand side impacts and severe collisions, complicating swift and safe passenger evacuation. Tests confirmed that power outages completely disable the electronic opening system, depriving rescue teams of immediate access. There was also an increased risk of hand or finger entrapment during rapid handle movement, raising concerns over unclear emergency release markings, making it difficult for passengers and rescuers to locate them promptly.

Details of Standard Amendments

The standard project emphasizes integrating mechanical backup mechanisms to ensure manual opening functionality when electronic circuits fail. Designs must include dual protection systems preventing handle emergence during vehicle rollover or drop, reducing the risks of unintended passenger egress in unstable conditions. The project also requires standardized visible markings on both internal and external handles for quick identification by passengers or emergency teams.

This is supported by a rigorous testing series verifying blockage resistance, dynamic performance, and structural endurance under varying loads, ensuring long term durability of the handles.

Manufacturer Commitment and Preparations

Manufacturers are committed to updating current production lines through close cooperation between brands like NIO, Li Auto, and Zeekr with parts suppliers and testing units to swiftly implement new requirements. This includes modifying lab inspection procedures and redesigning prototypes for necessary approvals before large scale production resumes. Regulatory bodies aim to conclude public consultations within months to finalize the standard ready for implementation at the start of next year.

Safety Outlook and Future Prospects

This initiative marks a turning point in China's automotive industry path by establishing a balanced approach between visual appeal and practical safety measures. The new standard boosts user confidence in advanced technologies while pushing competitors to minimize emergency opening response times. Experts believe this experience will inspire similar international specifications adoption, contributing to unified safety standards across brands and models.

In light of these developments, regulatory bodies show seriousness in enhancing passenger safety without compromising modern design innovations. This accompanies continuous development in testing protocols and measurement tools, ensuring performance quality and overcoming any gaps before market release.