Popular car feature could disappear within years after China bans common Tesla part

The feature was first popularised by Elon Musk's Tesla, which aimed to create a seamless look to the vehicle with flush door handles.

However, China has now taken steps to ban the feature following two fatal crashes involving Xiaomi electric vehicles.

Power failures were suspected to have prevented doors from opening, prompting the Chinese government to take action.

The new rules, which are set to be rolled out from January 1, 2027, will require a mechanic release on the inside and outside of the doors.

Cars will only be authorised for sale if they abide by the new rules, with manufacturers potentially having to introduce design changes to abide by the requirements.

Chinese state media explained that the outside of every passenger door, except the boot, must have a recessed space more than 6cm by 2cm by 2.6cm to allow access to the handle.

Signs must also be installed on the interior of the vehicle showing how to open the door. These must be at least 1cm by 0.7cm.

Chinese media reports that cars which have already been approved for sale and are in the final stages of entering the market will have a two-year grace period.

During this time, some of the most popular manufacturers in the world must update their design plans to ensure they adhere to the rules.

China Daily, a government-controlled newspaper, states that around 60 per cent of the 100 best-selling "new energy vehicles" have hidden door handles.

New energy vehicles, which are comprised of hybrid, electric and fuel cell cars, are rapidly becoming the norm in China, with brands like BYD, Chery, Jaecoo and Omoda investing heavily in the low-emission technology.

The new rules will only apply to vehicles sold in China, although this could quickly influence rules around the world.

Vehicles from China made up around five per cent of all car sales in the UK last year, with a number of brands launching across Europe.

BYD has quickly captured more than 2.5 per cent of the new vehicle market, while the Jaecoo 7 has quickly become one of the best-selling hybrids in the UK.

The new measures could be adopted by other manufacturers in Europe and North America, forcing a shift away from a flush door handle, which has become more commonplace in recent years.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the United States announced last year that it would open a probe into the use of hidden door handles by Tesla.

The investigation was prompted following reports that the electric-powered door handles had failed, leaving children trapped in vehicles.

Nine complaints had been made to the NHTSA about the use of these door handles, specifically with Tesla's 2021 Model Y electric vehicles.