China Bans Hidden EV Door Handles in World-First Safety Rule (1)

China banned concealed door handles on electric vehicles, the first country in the world to outlaw a design popularized by Tesla Inc. that is now facing global regulatory scrutiny due to a spate of deadly incidents.

Cars sold in China will be required to have mechanical release both on the inside and outside, according to new safety rules the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued on Monday.

The ruling will take effect on Jan. 1, 2027, the ministry said. Models that have already been approved by the regulator and are in the final stages of launching in China have ...