"The locking mechanism must be designed so that, in a crash that results in airbags deploying or a battery fire, doors on the non-impact side can be opened without tools. Chinese regulators are just as concerned that a vehicle's occupants don't get confused about how to open a door from the inside in an emergency. So each door must have mechanical releases where an occupant would expect to find them."
"Again, Tesla is probably the worst offender-its front doors have always had mechanical handles, but for some model years, the rears could not be opened without tools. For cars already approved by the Chinese government (which includes everything currently on sale), there's a grace period. For existing designs, automakers have until January 1, 2029, to redesign their doors, and due to the specificity of the rules, that group of automakers is much larger than just Tesla."
Locking mechanisms must allow non-impact-side doors to be opened without tools in crashes involving airbags or battery fires. Each door must include mechanical releases located where occupants expect them to allow intuitive emergency exit. Some existing models, notably certain Tesla rear doors, lack tool-free mechanical access. Vehicles already approved in China receive a grace period; manufacturers must redesign existing designs by January 1, 2029. The rule affects many brands beyond Tesla, including Xiaomi, BMW, Nio, Li Auto, and Xpeng, and likely high-end low-volume supercars if no exemptions apply. The regulation aims to reduce occupant deaths from entrapment.
Read at Ars Technica
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]