China proposes ending fully hidden door handles in new car rules

China has put forward draft rules that would bar fully hidden door handles and require physical backups when key driving functions—such as lights, windshield wipers, or defogging—are operated through a screen. The aim is straightforward: a car should still be possible to open, control, or exit when power, software, or the touchscreen fails, especially after a crash. The proposal is part of a broader effort to require automakers to demonstrate that novel designs have been thoroughly tested before a model receives approval for sale; it also calls for visible physical controls for emergency escape and emergency braking. The requirements are open for comment rather than final, but they could push carmakers in China to trade some screen-first and flush-body design choices for manual fallbacks that are easier to find and use.