Gasgoo Munich - On February 4, Gasgoo learned that the mandatory national standard "Safety Technical Requirements for Automotive Door Handles" (GB 48001-2026)—developed by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People's Republic of China—was approved and published by the State Administration for Market Regulation and the Standardization Administration of China on January 28, 2026. The regulation will officially take effect on January 1, 2027.
Rapid advancements in vehicle electrification have driven structural and systemic changes in door handles. This standard emerged to align with these technological trends, standardize product design, and elevate vehicle safety levels. The drafting process spanned nearly a year, beginning with a project announcement on May 8, 2025. It brought together more than 40 automakers, parts suppliers, and testing institutions, involving over 100 industry experts across multiple rounds of discussion, drafting, public consultation, and review before its final release.
The standard explicitly applies to M1 and N1 category vehicles and multi-purpose cargo trucks, while other vehicle types are expected to reference it for compliance. It covers core elements including scope, technical requirements, and testing methods. Regarding safety, exterior door handles on every door—excluding the tailgate—must be equipped with a mechanical release device to ensure doors can be opened following an accident. The regulation also specifies layout zones and hand-operating space. In terms of performance, vehicles with electric release latches must allow doors to be opened via the mechanical release handle without tools after testing. Furthermore, handles must withstand a force of no less than 500N without fracturing or detaching.
For interior door handles, the standard mandates that every door—excluding the tailgate—must feature at least one independently operated mechanical release handle. The placement must be unobstructed, intuitively visible, and meet specific distance requirements. Additionally, permanent markings and operating instructions are required; markings must be at least 10mm by 7mm, while instruction text must be at least 6mm high. On the strength front, non-electronic button handles must withstand a force of no less than 200N, while electronic button variants must endure at least 50N.
The rollout will be phased in. New models applying for type approval starting January 1, 2027, must comply with all provisions except for hand-operating space requirements. By January 1, 2028, they must meet every requirement. Existing models that have already received type approval must achieve full compliance by January 1, 2029.
For further details on the standard, the public can access the National Standard Information Public Service Platform.
Image source: MIIT Weibo
