BYD is rolling out semi-hidden door handles with mechanical structures across its new models, including the recently launched Yuan Plus, in an early response to a mandatory safety standard that takes effect in China in January 2027. The move breaks with the trend toward fully flush, electronically operated handles favored by some rivals, according to a report from Autohome.
The new national standard, GB 48001-2026, issued in January by China's State Administration for Market Regulation and the Standardization Administration, requires every exterior door handle (except the tailgate) to have a mechanical release mechanism. In the event of a collision that does not damage the lock, or in cases of thermal runaway or low-voltage power failure, occupants or rescuers must be able to open the door from outside using only hand strength, without tools. This effectively rules out designs that rely solely on electronic buttons or purely motorized pop-out handles.
Ergonomic and interior requirements
The standard also mandates that exterior handles provide a hand-operation space of at least 60 mm wide by 25 mm high by 20 mm deep in any state. This dimension, validated by ergonomic testing, ensures that firefighters or rescue personnel wearing insulated or heat-resistant gloves can still grip and operate the handle effectively.
Inside the cabin, the new Yuan Plus uses a conventional door pull, which Autohome notes is the fastest and most intuitive way to open a door. For vehicles that use electronic buttons or touch controls for interior door opening, the standard requires a separate mechanical emergency release, with clear specifications on its location, minimum quantity, and conspicuous color coding—typically red or orange with a pictogram—so it can be quickly identified and operated even in darkness or panic.
Autohome advises new car owners to spend a few seconds locating the interior emergency mechanical handle, usually above or beside the door storage bin, marked with a red or orange icon. "Knowing it exists is far more important than not knowing," the report says, adding that true safety is not about minimalist styling but about ensuring that, in a critical moment, a pull opens the door.
