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China Proposes Ban on Hidden Car-Door Handles and Foldable Screens in Major Safety Push
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CNBC TV18•11-10-2026, 15:23
China Proposes Ban on Hidden Car-Door Handles and Foldable Screens in Major Safety Push
- •China has proposed banning fully hidden car-door handles and foldable or flexible display screens in new vehicle safety rules.
- •Automakers will be required to retain physical controls for safety-critical functions such as lights, windshield wipers, and defogging systems.
- •The draft rules mandate additional technical parameters, validation materials, and more stringent reliability and environmental testing.
- •Regulators aim to crack down on fast-track vehicles developed on compressed timelines with reduced real-world testing and excessive reliance on simulations.
- •Previously approved models must provide supplementary information by July 1, facing production halts and recalls if they present safety hazards.
Key Questions Answered
China has proposed banning fully hidden car-door handles and foldable or flexible display screens in vehicles as part of new safety regulations issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other agencies.
Vehicles featuring virtual controls for safety-critical functions—such as lights, windshield wipers, and defogging systems—will be required to retain clearly marked physical controls.
Automakers applying for approval of models with innovative designs must submit additional technical parameters and validation materials starting January 1. They must also conduct reliability testing at a minimum of 30,000 kilometers alongside stricter environmental testing.
