On September 24, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) publicly solicited opinions on the mandatory national standard "Technical Requirements for the Safety of Automotive Door Handles (Draft for Solicitation of Comments)." In fact, since the news of this standard's application for approval was announced in May this year, topics related to the design and application of door handles have immediately attracted widespread attention both within and outside the industry. A major reason for this is that, in recent years, cases involving hidden and electronic door handles used in new energy vehicles—such as failure to open after collisions, malfunctions in low-temperature conditions, and lockouts due to circuit failures—have been frequently reported. These issues are directly related to the fundamental safety concern of whether the "passage of life remains unobstructed" after an accident.

The design and technical details of door handles may seem insignificant, but they are, in fact, closely tied to overall safety—a critical matter where immense importance hangs by a thread. With the imminent release of this mandatory national standard, it represents a proactive move by regulators to keep pace with technological advancements, signaling that automotive safety regulation will become increasingly refined and scenario-specific. However, the author would like to take this opportunity to discuss the collective consciousness within the automotive industry behind the formulation of this door handle standard.

The reliability of traditional mechanical door handles has long been validated. In the Chinese market, hidden and electronic door handles can be regarded as "products of trend-following," aligning with the pursuit of reducing wind resistance and enhancing a sense of technological sophistication. Yet, for ordinary consumers, the design details of hidden and electronic door handles are not standardized. For instance, the opening mechanisms vary and can even be counter-intuitive, to the extent that some new car owners need to study and adapt before mastering their operation. This is just one issue. If the external door handles are unresponsive, they are more prone to potential hazards under extreme weather conditions. In emergencies, if the vehicle experiences a total power loss and lacks a mechanical backup solution, it becomes difficult to open the doors manually from inside or outside. For products used in scenarios such as ride-hailing services, drivers must educate passengers to avoid the awkwardness of fumbling during entry and exit. The author questions whether the emergence of hidden and electronic door handle designs is truly driven by consumer preferences. This is a question worth serious consideration by the industry.

The rush of domestic companies to "seek guidance" has made hidden and electronic door handles increasingly popular in the market. Yet, the reality is that a significant portion of consumers do not embrace them. Clearly, "seeking guidance" does not necessarily lead to obtaining the "true principles." Distinguishing between what is "genuine" and "false" requires independent judgment—"the grass is always greener on the other side." The negative feedback received by hidden and electronic door handles [indicates/showes/suggests] that the automotive industry did not fully grasp market demands during the early development stages, making "blind benchmarking" an inadvisable approach.

Why Do Companies Blindly Follow Trends in New Energy Vehicle Door Handle Design? Looking back at the early stages of China's new energy vehicle industry development, many traditional automakers were criticized for adopting a "fuel-to-electric conversion" design approach. Their products lacked standout exterior features, failed to meet consumers' emotional needs, and did not fully leverage the advantages of electrification. At that time, automakers, recognizing their shortcomings, naturally sought to comprehensively benchmark themselves against "model students." During the innovation phase, "crossing the river by feeling the stones" is not wrong, but being "led by the nose" is an extreme. Striking a balance between understanding consumer psychology and being swayed by market sentiment requires strategic resilience.

The author believes that the persistence of flush-mounted and electronic door handles despite poor consumer feedback also exposes certain shortcomings in decision-making. The success or failure of a product's appeal seems entirely determined by the market, yet meeting consumers' genuine needs is an essential condition for a successful vehicle model. When defining vehicle models, should companies spend more time researching what constitutes "real demand" versus "pseudo-demand"? After distinguishing between the two, can this information be seamlessly communicated to the decision-making level? Behind the "blind imitation" may lie pain points in corporate decision-making.

On the other hand, the initiation and formulation of the mandatory national standard for door handles reflect significant progress across the industry—the development ecosystem has become more efficient and flexible, and the understanding of intelligent connected new energy vehicles continues to deepen. The author believes that innovation in China's automotive industry will never cease. This reflects the importance of advancing this standard—the further innovation progresses, the more the industry needs to confront problems and challenges, promptly addressing safety gaps in innovative designs. This represents a collective "consciousness."

From the "unconsciousness" of blindly following trends to the "consciousness" of strengthening regulations, the humble door handle mirrors the industry's introspection and maturity.

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