comments China has called time on hidden door handles on cars from next year as safety concerns mount regarding the pop-out features that were popularlised by Elon Musk's Tesla electric vehicle brand. The handles, which are designed to be minimalist to both improve the aesthetic and aerodynamics of new cars, have come under significant criticism from drivers and road safety groups in recent years. Motorists frequently complain that they often freeze shut during winter and won't open. But more concerning is that they've been found to lose operation when involved in a crash, making it difficult for emergency services to reach passengers inside stricken vehicles. The new rules could prompt car makers globally to rethink vehicle-door designs, who have faced mounting pressure to reconsider hidden handles since they have become more common place since the arrival of Musk's first mass-market car, the Tesla Model S, in 2012. Other brands including Audi and Jaguar Land Rover also use pop-out handles on some of their models. With China increasing its power within the automotive sphere, analysts believe the new safety standards it sets could snowball across global markets. The new rules, which were announced by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on Monday, will take effect from 1 January 2027, and require door handles to have both interior and exterior mechanical releases. Chinese car models already approved for launch will have an additional two years to achieve compliance, the ministry said. China has banned hidden door handles on new cars from next year as safety concerns mount regarding the pop-out features that were popularlised by Elon Musk's Tesla electric vehicle brand The new regulations will apply to all vehicles but will mostly impact EVs, which are commonly designed with hidden handles, and will 'improve the level of automotive safety design', the ministry added. Safety concerns have risen in China recently over sleek, aerodynamic car doors that reduce drag but are prone failing after a collision has taken place. One high-profile incident occurred in October, when rescuers were shown failing to open the doors of a burning Xiaomi electric vehicle in the southwestern city of Chengdu. The driver, reported to be under the influence of alcohol, died in the crash. These electronic - or 'flush' - door handles were popularised by Tesla, which used the features on all four of its mass-market models, including the recently-discontinued Model X SUV and the current Model 3 and Model Y, which are among the most-bought new EVs in the UK. JLR has also installed the handles on models including the Jaguar F-Type, Range Rover and Range Rover Velar. Renault uses the features on some of its latest electric cars, including the Megane and Scenic E-Tech. Audi has also rolled out pop-out handles across models in its range. And they too have become popular choices among Chinese EV brands, which typically prioritise high-tech gadgets over driving performance to attract customers. According to China Daily, pop-out door handles appear on approximately six in ten of China's best-selling electric and plug-in hybrid cars on the market today. Folding into the body of the car, such door handles provide a slight boost to efficiency by reducing drag while the vehicle is in motion Motorists frequently complain that they often freeze shut during winter and won't open. But more concerning is that they've been found to lose operation when involved in a crash, making it difficult for emergency services to reach passengers inside stricken vehicle Folding into the body of the car, such door handles provide a slight boost to efficiency by reducing drag while the vehicle is in motion. However, owners of UK motors that use the features often complain around this time of year that they need to defrost their handles to gain access when temperatures drop below freezing. Repair costs when the handles fail electronically and stop working can also be extremely expensive compared to the replacement of a traditional grab handle release.