MIIT: Avoid completely hidden door handles in design, experts say the aerodynamic drag reduction effect of hidden car handles can be ignored.

Today, hidden door handles are becoming a "mainstream design" for some car companies. Some people think it looks very high-tech, while some consumers may encounter "sticking" issues while using them. Whether it is "lever-type" or "electric control-type", salespeople will use hidden door handles as a selling point, promoting that they can "reduce wind resistance" and reduce range loss. Experts have told reporters that compared to traditional exterior door handles, hidden door handles do not reduce much wind resistance. Test data shows that the impact on the overall vehicle resistance is at a level that can be ignored. The new draft for soliciting opinions issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology clearly includes multiple mandatory safety standards, one of which is to avoid full hidden design of car door handles. The new regulation for soliciting opinions marks the transition of hidden door handles from being "beauty-oriented" to "safety-first". Experts point out that hidden door handles, compared to traditional mechanical handles, have added components such as motors, sensors, and transmission mechanisms internally, which not only increase costs and maintenance costs, but also may have issues such as pinching fingers and control logic failures. Journalists have noticed that some car companies have already adjusted their design direction in advance: some are returning to mechanical semi-hidden door handles, some are using "electric + mechanical" dual backup designs, and so on.