It looks beautiful but is difficult to use. The fully concealed door handles of cars are finally going to be banned.

Fully concealed door handles are often criticized for being "invisible, untouchable, and impossible to open." Now, they are set to exit the automotive market.

On September 24th, the official website of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released the "Safety Technical Requirements for Automobile Door Handles (Draft for Comment)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Draft for Comment"), soliciting public opinions. The "Draft for Comment" makes detailed regulations on the technical requirements and test methods for door handles and clearly stipulates that each door must be equipped with an exterior door handle with a mechanical release function, and a clear operating space should be reserved for it.

The compilation note of the "Draft for Comment" specifically mentions that in response to the new technologies and new safety requirements of electric concealed door handles, to further standardize and improve the safety of door handles and strengthen the safety bottom - line of automobiles, the formulation of the door handle standard has been organized.

This means that the widely popular "fully concealed" door handle design is coming to an end. From being once pursued as a symbol of intelligence and beauty to being phased out of the market, the changing fate of the "fully concealed" door handle reflects the deep - seated game between design evolution and the safety bottom - line.

△AI - generated image by a reporter from Times Weekly

There is nothing new under the sun, and concealed door handles are no exception. As early as the 1950s, they were applied to racing cars. On the race track where every second counts, reducing wind resistance and optimizing aerodynamic performance are crucial. Concealed door handles are a result of the ultimate pursuit of racing car performance.

In the era of automobile electrification, some car manufacturers packaged this design as a "range assistant." In fact, its contribution to the vehicle's range is minimal. When the functional value is weak, the symbolic meaning is magnified. The fully concealed door handles of automobiles are more about creating a sense of technology and identity.

The Tesla Model S was the first to adopt the pop - out door handle design, which was elevated to a visual symbol of smart cars. The unique "welcome" ritual transformed the door handle from a functional component into an identity marker and gradually evolved into a signature design language for new - energy vehicle models.

However, safety hazards have gradually emerged. In extreme accident scenarios, fully concealed door handles may pose a fatal risk. Once a vehicle suffers a serious collision and loses power, the door handles cannot pop out automatically, which will directly affect the rescue efficiency.

In 2021, a new - energy vehicle in the United States crashed into a tree and caught fire. The failure of the concealed door handles to pop out was considered a key factor in delaying the rescue. Similar situations have also occurred in China. In an accident in Qingdao in 2023, it took the rescue workers three minutes to pry open the decorative cover of the concealed door handle.

Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the United States show that since 2020, the number of accident reports due to door handle problems causing rescue delays has tripled, and 90% of them involve concealed designs. The China Insurance Automotive Safety Index (C - IASI) crash test shows that for models equipped with electronic door handles, the success rate of the doors popping out after a side collision is only 67%, far lower than the 98% of mechanical door handles.

Behind the data lies the real rescue dilemma. Concealed door handles may fail due to power loss or deformation after a collision, delaying the rescue. The mandatory requirement for mechanical handles is to ensure safety in the simplest and most reliable way.

The history of the automotive industry is no stranger to design revolutions "giving way to safety." In the 1950s and 1960s, exaggerated metal bumpers were once a symbol of automotive "beauty," such as the Chevrolet Bel Air, known as "Marilyn Monroe's car." Later, out of consideration for pedestrian protection, regulatory authorities around the world gradually required bumpers to be integrated with the vehicle body and made of energy - absorbing materials.

All aesthetic frenzies that deviate from safety will eventually be recalled by rationality. Excellent design should first uphold the safety bottom - line and then achieve aesthetic breakthroughs.

The "Draft for Comment" puts forward clear requirements for interior door handles, emphasizing that they must be equipped with easily recognizable mechanical release devices. Even for "electric doors," mechanical handles should be retained as a safety redundancy.

This has long been an established rule in the aviation field. Even if a civil airliner is equipped with the most advanced fly - by - wire control system, some mechanical or hydraulic control devices are still retained. Once the electronic system fails, the pilot can continue to control the aircraft through the mechanical connection to ensure safe operation in extreme situations.

As the intelligence level of automobiles continues to improve, mechanical door handles, which do not rely on complex circuits and sensors, are a simple and reliable physical backup. Retaining the mechanical function does not mean giving up innovation; instead, it may give rise to more mature design innovations.

From a deeper perspective, this change in design thinking reflects the inevitable law of industrial development. After the wild growth of new technologies, they will eventually return to the essential requirements of safety and reliability. Truly viable designs are born at the balance point between safety and aesthetics.

This article is from the WeChat official account "Times Weekly" (ID: timeweekly), author: Liu Xue. Republished by 36Kr with permission.