Core Viewpoint - The rise of hidden door handles in the automotive industry has sparked discussions about their safety and usability, particularly in emergency situations where they may fail to operate as intended [4][8][26]. Group 1: Hidden Door Handles Overview - Hidden door handles have become a standard feature in many vehicles, designed to enhance aesthetics and reduce wind resistance, thereby improving energy efficiency [4][6]. - Various designs of hidden door handles exist, including manual pop-out and electric pop-out mechanisms, which can lead to confusion for first-time users [6][11]. - The transition to hidden door handles has been driven by market competition and the desire for modern, sleek vehicle designs [4][6]. Group 2: Safety Concerns - Incidents have been reported where hidden door handles failed to open during emergencies, raising concerns about their reliability [8][19]. - The design of door locks, whether traditional or electronic, can impact the ability to open doors after a collision, with electronic locks being more susceptible to failure if power is lost [21][19]. - Current and upcoming safety standards in China are addressing the need for door handles to remain operable after collisions, emphasizing the importance of mechanical redundancy in their design [24][32]. Group 3: Regulatory Developments - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in China is working on new mandatory standards for automotive door handles, focusing on safety, reliability, and user accessibility [32][33]. - Proposed regulations include requirements for mechanical release functions in door handles to ensure they can be operated without external tools in case of power failure [33]. - The standards aim to enhance the structural integrity and operational space of door handles, ensuring they can withstand significant force without failure [33].

Core Viewpoint - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has released a draft for the "Safety Technical Requirements for Automotive Door Handles," which aims to standardize the design of vehicle door handles, potentially eliminating all hidden door handle designs in the market if approved [1]. Group 1: Regulatory Changes - The draft specifies that each car door (excluding the tailgate) must be equipped with a mechanical external handle [1]. - Non-collision side doors must be operable without tools through the external handle [1]. - The external handle must provide a hand operation space of no less than 60×20×25 millimeters in any state [1]. Group 2: Industry Impact - If the draft is finalized, it will mandate the removal of all hidden door handle designs from vehicles on the market [1].