China's Four Departments Propose New Auto Design Rules, Ban Hidden Door Handles
On.cc · 3 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago3 MIN
Summary
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and three other government departments jointly released a draft notice on Saturday, October 10, 2026, proposing stricter regulations on automobile product innovation design and R&D testing verification. The notice explicitly bans fully hidden door handles, foldable and flexible displays, zero-gravity seats, rotating seats, and seats that fold flat into beds. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) expressed strong support for the policy, which aims to eliminate unsafe design practices that prioritize novelty over safety and ensure proper testing protocols are followed.
Key Points
- The four departments—MIIT, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and the State Administration for Market Regulation—jointly issued the draft notice on October 10, 2026 .
- New products with innovative designs submitted from January 1, 2027 must include detailed innovation design technical parameters and undergo safety and environmental assessments according to the Technical Guidelines for Automobile Product Innovation Design .
- Products that fail to complete required testing, provide insufficient verification materials, or submit false documentation will be denied public announcement status .
- Existing approved products must submit supplementary technical parameters and verification materials by July 1, 2027; those with safety concerns must cease production and undergo recall .
- Testing requirements include environmental adaptability verification lasting at least one year and reliability testing covering no less than 30,000 kilometers .
- Fully hidden door handles must demonstrate functional stability under extreme environmental conditions and operability during emergencies, with mechanical redundancy designs and adequate hand clearance .
- CAAM called on the entire industry to prioritize safety, abandon irrational innovation that emphasizes form over substance, and integrate safety assessments throughout the entire product innovation process .
Why It Matters
These new regulations represent a significant shift in China's approach to automobile product management, directly addressing safety concerns raised by rapid technological integration in vehicles. For Hong Kong consumers, these rules will affect the types of vehicles available in the local market, particularly electric vehicles from mainland manufacturers that often feature such innovative designs. The stringent testing requirements—particularly the one-year environmental adaptability verification and 30,000-kilometer durability testing—will raise overall vehicle quality standards and reduce safety risks associated with untested features .
These new regulations represent a significant shift in China's approach to automobile product management, directly addressing safety concerns raised by rapid technological integration in vehicles. For Hong Kong consumers, these rules will affect the types of vehicles available in the local market, particularly electric vehicles from mainland manufacturers that often feature such innovative designs. The stringent testing requirements—particularly the one-year environmental adaptability verification and 30,000-kilometer durability testing—will raise overall vehicle quality standards and reduce safety risks associated with untested features .