China's Car Ban Sparks Australia Dumping Fears

Australia risks becoming a "dumping" ground for electric cars following the introduction of new Chinese safety rules from next year, a report for Australian car dealers has warned.

Hidden or retractable door handles have become a common feature of many modern electric cars, popularised by Tesla . Last year, China Daily reported around 60% of China's 100 bestselling "new-energy vehicles" - electric vehicles (EVs), hybrids or cars powered by fuel cells - had concealed handles.

From January 1 next year, China is phasing in a world-first ban on hidden or retractable electric car door handles.

All new cars sold in China will need handles that can be manually opened in an emergency, even when a car has lost power. The US is currently considering a similar move.

China's ban followed a series of sometimes fatal incidents , where people were trapped inside burning, flooded or frozen cars, with doors unable to be opened from the outside .

Meanwhile, it appears increasingly likely that from mid-next year, China could also force carmakers to reintroduce more physical buttons and levers back into new cars. Large touchscreens without physical controls have been shown to be dangerously distracting for drivers.

Compared to China and the US, what is Australia doing about the proven risks of electric-only door handles and large touchscreens in new cars?

Changing Chinese and US car rules

The Australian Automotive Dealers' Association - which represents 3,900 new car and truck dealers - recently released an independent report by legal expert Emeritus Professor Jenny Buchan.

It largely focused on problems with drivers getting car repairs done under Australian consumer law. But the report also concluded:

Australia should not ignore the risk of stock dumping following China's approach to EVs with flush door handles. The US has also recognised the problems flush door handles cause and responded by introducing a bill to the House of Representatives.

If the US bill - the SAFE Exit Act of 2026 - passes Congress, the US would follow China's lead in mandating new cars had manual door releases.

China's world-first rules will apply from January 1 2027 to new vehicle models seeking approval after that date. Models that have already been approved and are already on sale will have until January 1 2029 to comply. This gives manufacturers time to update existing designs.

Since existing models have until 2029 to comply in China, manufacturers will eventually need to decide whether to redesign those vehicles globally, or continue selling older versions in markets with less stringent requirements.

Australia could find itself on the receiving end of outdated car designs if its own safety standards fail to keep pace.

China's moves on touchscreens

Concealed door handles are not the only car technology feature China appears to be rethinking. Regulators have also turned their attention to car touchscreens .

Earlier this year, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released draft revisions to national vehicle standards for public consultation. The proposals would require physical controls for a range of essential functions - including indicators, windscreen wipers, hazard lights and the horn - rather than relying solely on using a touchscreen.

The draft has not yet been adopted. But the move suggests Chinese regulators are increasingly scrutinising whether digital convenience has come at the expense of people's safety.

What is Australia doing on doors and controls?

Australia's independent vehicle safety body, ANCAP , has already recognised many of the concerns that have prompted China's regulatory crackdown.

ANCAP's 2026 safety assessment system places much greater emphasis on post-crash safety . To achieve the highest safety rating, ANCAP now asks carmakers to ensure electric door handles remain operable after a crash, or provide a manual override, so passengers and emergency responders can still open car doors.

ANCAP has turned its attention to touchscreens too. Under its latest safety rating rules, manufacturers are rewarded for having physical controls - or permanently accessible screen controls - for critical functions such as indicators, headlights, windscreen wipers, hazard lights and the horn.

But ANCAP is not a regulator. Earlier this year, ANCAP chief executive Carla Hoorweg urged the Australian government to follow China's lead on regulating concealed door handles , saying "the concern is warranted":

We're doing what we can, but we're voluntary - it's not mandatory to have an ANCAP safety rating, so we can't stop cars coming into the country.

Why Australia needs tougher rules

China is the world's largest EV market. Its safety standards have the power to shape how manufacturers design vehicles not just for Chinese consumers, but globally.

Chinese cars are becoming increasingly popular with Australian drivers. Last month, Chinese electric and hybrid carmaker BYD was Australia's second bestselling car brand for the third month in a row, only just behind Toyota.

If Australia fails to respond swiftly to changing safety standards, it risks becoming a market where car designs no longer acceptable in China could keep being sold here.

It's happened before. It took Australia about a decade longer than Europe to adopt equivalent Euro 6 standards , setting stricter limits on noxious exhaust emissions. That meant Australian motorists kept buying more polluting vehicles long after many other countries had moved on.

If concealed door handles are considered a genuine safety concern by car safety experts, that judgement should be reflected in Australian legal standards, as China has done. It should not be left to ANCAP to warn about - without any legal power to prevent cars from being sold.

Milad Haghani does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.