China has just issued a directive mandating mechanical car door systems and will no longer allow concealed door handles starting January 1, 2027 for safety reasons. Recently, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued two new directives that will once again change the landscape of vehicles that want to be sold in the Chinese market.
First of all, MIIT requires that important systems in the vehicle cabin be controlled using physical buttons or knobs. The use of touch screens for the control system of turn signals, hazard lights, gear changes and emergency call functions is no longer allowed. The size of each button must be at least 10mm x 10mm and it must provide haptic or audio feedback so that the driver can immediately know whether it is operating or not.
Second, the use of steering wheels with a half or yoke design like an airplane is also banned. This is because in studies conducted, both types of steering wheels increase injuries to drivers in accidents because the surface area is smaller than a round steering wheel. It was also found to make it difficult for the airbag system to absorb the impact of an accident.
New regulations have been issued to improve the safety of vehicles sold in the Chinese market. They will come into effect from 1 January 2027, along with a ban on hidden door handles. Cars that have previously received approval will be given 13 months to change to the new design.
