Transport Department may update HK safety standards after China’s ban on hidden EV door handles

The Transport Department said it will monitor developments in vehicle safety and standards, updating local requirements as needed to ensure Hong Kong’s vehicle standards align with advancements following China’s upcoming ban on hidden door handles in electric vehicles (EVs). 

For some current vehicle models equipped with concealed mechanical door locks, the department said it issued a circular to the local automotive industry last year, requiring all vehicle dealers and parallel importers to ensure car owners are informed of how to operate the hidden door locks to open the doors in emergencies.

China will ban concealed door handles on electric vehicles on January 1 next year, becoming the first country to do so, following several fatal incidents, including two Xiaomi EVs in which power failures were believed to have prevented the doors from opening.