China's road safety authorities have taken a decisive step against electric door opening systems in new vehicles, implementing a ban that came into effect in February 2026. This measure targets a growing trend in modern car design, where traditional physical door handles are replaced by electronic buttons or sensors that require electricity to unlatch the door.
The move by Chinese regulators follows a series of accident reports where the failure of these electric door mechanisms reportedly complicated rescue efforts. In the event of a power failure, such as a depleted 12V battery, these systems can render car doors seemingly impossible to open, posing significant risks to occupants trapped inside and to first responders attempting to gain access.
The comprehensive ban extends to various contemporary door designs, including those with handles that sit flush with the car's bodywork when not in use – a feature seen in many electric vehicles and luxury cars. Furthermore, the new regulations mandate that mechanical door releases must be physically accessible to rescue workers, even those wearing heavy-duty gloves. Interior mechanical handles are also required to be clearly labelled and visible on all doors.
Concerns surrounding electric door systems are not isolated to China. In the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently investigating car manufacturer Tesla over the role of its car door handles in contributing to fatalities in similar accident scenarios. This suggests a growing international scrutiny of these advanced but potentially problematic features.
Despite these developments, European safety assessment programmes, such as Euro NCAP, do not yet have specific best practice protocols for electric door opening systems. Their current evaluations focus on general checks regarding whether doors open in crash test scenarios, rather than addressing the specific challenges posed by electronic mechanisms in power-loss situations.
For motorists, understanding the operation of their car's door system is becoming increasingly crucial. Owners of vehicles with electric door opening systems are advised to familiarise themselves with the location and operation of the manual release mechanisms, both for the front and rear doors, to ensure they can exit the vehicle safely in an emergency.