Recently, the mandatory national standard "Safety Technical Requirements for Vehicle Door Handles" (GB 48001—2026), formulated by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, has been officially promulgated and is set to take effect on January 1, 2027. This standard is designed to tackle the safety risks that come with the widespread use of hidden and electronic door handles. It ensures that vehicle doors can be opened normally in extreme scenarios, such as power outages or collisions, thereby facilitating the safe evacuation of occupants and enabling external rescue operations.

The new national standard explicitly mandates that each door (excluding the rear door) must be fitted with mechanical release handles on both the interior and exterior of the vehicle. The exterior handle must offer a hand-operating space measuring no less than 60mm in length, 20mm in width, and 25mm in depth to ensure a firm grip. Meanwhile, the interior handle must be placed in a conspicuous location and clearly labeled for quick identification and operation. Furthermore, door handles must meet specific mechanical strength criteria. For instance, the exterior handle should be able to withstand a force of no less than 500 Newtons.

The new national standard also includes a transition period for automakers. New vehicle models seeking approval must adhere to all requirements, except for the "hand-operating space" criterion, starting from January 1, 2027. They must fully comply with all requirements from January 1, 2028. Models that have already been approved and are currently on sale must undergo rectification to meet the new standards by January 1, 2029.