You do know that flush door handles are to found across the automobile industry, right?
Range Rover, Jaguar, Hyundai/Kia, Ford, Nissan, Honda. Chinese heavyweights Xiaomi and Aion do it too.
The problem is *electrically operated* door handles --- ones that will not function when power is absent --- for example, after an accident or being submerged in water.
Tesla "fixed" something that wasn't broken.
According to reports, the following cars will be affected by the new regulation:
- Xiaomi SU7, various models from BYD, Geely, and SAIC
- Tesla models 3 and Y
- BMW iX3, Kia EV6, models from Hyundai, Nissan, Porsche, VW, and GM
China will ban fully hidden, electronic-only, or retractable door handles on electric vehicles (EVs) starting January 1, 2027. All car doors will be required to feature a functional, accessible mechanical release for safety.