At the 2026 Beijing International Auto Show, a discernible trend has emerged: a gradual decrease in the prevalence of fully concealed door handles, accompanied by a widespread resurgence of mechanical and semi-concealed alternatives. This transformation is rooted in the newly implemented national standard, 'Safety Technical Requirements for Automobile Door Handles,' issued on February 2nd of this year. This standard explicitly bans the utilization of fully concealed designs and mandates that each door be outfitted with both externally and internally operable mechanical door handles. Moreover, it specifies that externally operable handles must have a reserved mechanical operation space.

The enforcement timeline for these regulations is as follows: for new vehicle models, the standards will come into effect from January 2027 to January 2028. Meanwhile, models already in production (including those undergoing facelifts) will be required to comply starting from January 2029. In response to these new requirements, automakers are swiftly modifying their designs.

For instance, Xiaomi's upcoming SU7 model showcases a triple safety redundancy door handle, ensuring enhanced safety and compliance. Similarly, AITO's latest M9 model adopts a semi-concealed door handle design, providing multiple door-opening options, including purely mechanical ones, to adhere to the stringent demands of the new national standard.