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As China bans new cars with unsafe doors, Australia risks becoming a ‘dumping’ ground (theconversation.com)
submitted 1 month ago by to c/australia@aussie.zone
15 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

From January 1 2026, ... 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.

The 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.

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.

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.

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[–] 19 points 1 month ago

Australia could solve that problem by also improving its safety laws.

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    [–] 10 points 1 month ago (3 children)

    A few years ago, the naysayers were all saying "Australia will be a dumping ground for ICE vehicles", now "Australia will be a dumping ground for handleless doors". Next it will be "Australia will be a dumping ground for older battery styles" or something equally inane.

    Funnily enough, we aren't.

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    • [–] 8 points 1 month ago* (2 children)

    Having door handles that work seems like a no brainer. So i can only assume the designers haven't got any fuckin brains.

    Like WTF? Have they seen cars? Anything could happen, and the occupants need to be able to get out in an emergency.

    Edit: 'popularised by Tesla.'

    I see I was correct. No brains.

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    • [–] 6 points 1 month ago (1 child)

    Cars are somewhat modular, replace the handle or door.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 month ago

    The door skin is specifically designed for a slimline hidden handle. It wouldn’t be too difficult to build a retrofit an external handle but it will look like arse.

    The door skin would need to be modified to accommodate a recessed external handle, which wouldn’t be impossible, but would require a bit more specialised labour.

    I’m not saying it can’t or won’t be done, but the bean counters would probably just prefer to replace the entire door assembly.

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    • [–] 3 points 1 month ago (1 child)

    Isn't Australia a left-side driving country, China is a right-side one. I don't really understand who would buy those cars in big quantities if they were dumped in Australia

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  • [–] 4 points 1 month ago (1 child)

    Cars are valuable, the cost of converting from right to left hand drive is not greater than the value of the car, so manufacturers will just adjust costs to account for it.

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  • [–] 5 points 1 month ago (1 child)

    EVs are pretty much fly-by-wire (autocorrect tried to change to fry-by-wire, LOL) so LH/RH conversions are pretty straightforward.

    That said, retrofitting safe door handles is even more straightforward.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 month ago (1 child)

    Yeah I was gonna say, surely it's not a big job to have… a door? That just opens via handle? I have one already in my car. Several, even

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  • [–] 1 point 4 weeks ago

    If I was a manufacturer, I would do is look though my parts catalogue for recessed door handles with an integrated trim.

    I would also create cutting templates for the door skin and stick-on mounting brackets for the one-piece door handles.

    Dealer Technicians would have instructions to remove all the retracting crap, tape the template to the skin, and cut out a hole. Then they would epoxy the mounting brackets inside the door shell. This will enable them to install the old-design handles.

    I would recall and cancel the retracting door handles. When stock of the retracting-handle-compatible door skins are depleted, I would supersede the doors to a new, safer design plus the new, safer handles.

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