Most new cars in South Africa have this feature – And it’s getting banned in China

A growing number of new cars sold in South Africa feature electric door handles, but the technology is facing global scrutiny over safety concerns.

The issue has grown to the point that the Chinese government plans to ban electric door handles for most cars starting in 2027.

The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has published new Automotive Door Handle Safety Requirements, which stipulate that all vehicles produces in China after 1 January 2027 weighing less than 3.5 tonnes must be equipped with mechanical interior and exterior door handles.

The new standards were created following industry research involving more than 20 companies and 63 different vehicle models.

Electric door handles have taken off in recent years due to their sleek, futuristic appeal, but they also have serious safety flaws.

Conventional door handles are physically connected to the door locks, but newer electric handles rely on sensors that detect when the car is being opened.

The sensor will then send a signal to tell the car to open the locks.

The risk this system presents is that the car’s doors locked are now tied to its electrical systems, which can malfunction.

This is particularly dangerous with regard to vehicle accidents, but water damage, fire damage, and even software issues can be just as concerning.

To counteract this, carmakers have started to introduce software to automatically unlock the car doors when an accident is detected, but these systems have proven to be unreliable.

In China, the government has followed up on news reports about bystanders and emergency responders who were unable to rescue occupants trapped in their cars after an accident.

This problem is not unique to Chinese cars, however, as Tesla and other carmakers are facing similar pressure in the United States where there have been reports of people being trapped in their cars.

Bloomberg reported this week that a US lawmaker is proposing new legislation that would require all new cars with electric door handles to feature a mechanical door latch in case of emergencies.

The legislation also stipulates that first responders must have the means to accessthe vehicle when power is lost.

Right now, most cars with electric door handles have emergency mechanical releases on the inside, but not outside.

China’s new regulations also require that door handles that are not too damaged must be openable without the need for additional tools.

Flush door handles also a target

The terms “flush” and “electric” door handles are sometimes used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing.

Flush door handles are electronic, but the term specifically refers to door handles that merge with the door panel when not in use.

These “hidden” handles are popular for their sleek appearance, which blends in with the shape of the car and improves aerodynamics.

However, the obvious downside is that they are inaccessible when they are not deployed.

China’s new regulations mandate that all exterior door handles have a hand-operating space of at least 6cm by 2.5cm by 2.5cm.

Another flaw with flush handles is that they can ice over in colder climates, effectively locking owners out of their cars until they chip away at the ice.

South Africa’s vehicle safety standard authority has yet to take any action regarding door handle requirements, but China, the United States, and the European Union are all in the process of developing new rules to regulateelectric and flush handles.