{
  "id": 13414252,
  "title": "China drafts rules to ban hidden car handles, virtual controls",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/china-drafts-rules-to-ban-hidden-car-handles-virtual-controls",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-10T12:47:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Investing.com",
    "slug": "investing-com",
    "url": "https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/china-drafts-rules-to-ban-hidden-car-handles-virtual-controls-4942097"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "China has proposed new safety regulations for car manufacturers, aiming to ban fully hidden door handles and flexible displays, while mandating physical controls for key vehicle functions, according to a draft released by multiple government agencies. The rules, open for public comment until November 10, aim to tackle safety and environmental risks associated with manufacturers launching new models without adequate testing. Automakers seeking approval for new models from January 1, 2027, will need to submit detailed technical documentation of innovative designs and their testing. Inadequately tested or false data could result in rejection. Vehicles approved before July 1, 2027, must report information about their innovative designs. Vehicles lacking safety-critical functions like emergency escape, emergency braking, and power cut-off would require physical controls, clear labels, and mechanical redundancy. Door handles must undergo reliability testing in extreme conditions, operability during emergencies, and have sufficient space for manual operation. Fully hidden or swivel seats, large infotainment screens, and complex head-up displays would also face additional assessments for driver distraction and crash safety. The measures come amid a weakening demand in China's passenger vehicle market, with retail sales falling 21% year-on-year in the first nine months of 2026 compared to the previous year.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "China drafts new car safety rules to ban fully hidden door handles and flexible displays.",
    "Physical controls required for key vehicle functions like emergency escape and braking.",
    "Vehicles approved before July 2027 must report innovative design testing details."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}