China proposes tighter car design tests and ban on fully concealed door handles

Four Chinese departments released a consultation draft on October 10 proposing stronger management of vehicle innovation and research-and-development testing. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Ecology and Environment and State Administration for Market Regulation prepared the document. Reports said it addresses manufacturers following product trends without sufficient validation. Proposed design restrictions include a ban on fully concealed door handles and on folding or flexible displays. Door handles would need mechanical redundancy, space for hand operation and validation of performance in extreme environments and emergencies. [ 2 , 4 , 12 , 16 ]

Vehicles using touch or pressure-sensitive controls in place of traditional buttons would need assessments of touch reliability, accidental activation and feedback clarity. Key safety functions such as lighting, wipers and defrosting would also need physical controls. Emergency escape, braking and drive-system power-cutoff controls would require physical controls and conspicuous markings. Xinhua reported that manufacturers would have to restrict zero-gravity seats, rotating seats and bed-like reclining functions while vehicles are moving. It also described assessments of how entertainment screens, large displays and complex head-up displays affect driving safety. [ 10 , 12 , 14 ]

The draft calls for environmental adaptability validation lasting at least one year and reliability testing covering at least 30,000 kilometers. From January 1, 2027, new applications involving innovative designs would need additional technical parameters and safety and environmental assessments. Insufficient testing or false materials would prevent approval. Already approved products would need supplementary parameters and validation materials before July 1, 2027; overdue products with safety risks would face production stoppages and recalls. Manufacturers would also have to avoid false, exaggerated or misleading marketing and describe features' operating limits. On October 11, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers expressed support for the initiative and urged companies to put safety assessment throughout product development. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 9 , 20 , 21 ]