12 hours ago
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New regulations in China mean cars must have physical door handles to ensure ease of operation in an emergency, but BMW has opted for a region-specific solution.
Electric Cars
It appears BMW isn't prepared to abandon flush-fit electronically actuated door handles just yet.
The trend towards flush-fit door handles that electronically present themselves, or require counter-intuitive steps to open, is about to be brought to an abrupt end, thanks to the introduction of regulations in China that require simple, manual operation in a variety of conditions.
As one of the largest new car sales markets in the world, it’s reasonable to assume that the new Chinese regulations would force car brands to follow suit across global markets to keep a lid on costs.
BMW, however, looks set to adopt a specific solution for the Chinese market that won't be seen elsewhere. At least, not initially.
Images of China’s version of the iX3 electric SUV reveal a unique door stamping and different lift-up door handle design, compared to the iX3 built for the rest of the world.
The change affects more than just the door design, as the Chinese-market iX3 is built on a longer wheelbase with longer rear doors, requiring unique bodywork.
The iX3 LWB gets a 108mm-longer wheelbase than the version sold elsewhere, now 3005mm – longer than that of the current X5 (2975mm) sold in Australia.
Where car makers usually look to efficiencies of scale, and as many common parts as possible – including expensive pressings like door panels and skins – BMW appears to have been forced to change the iX3 LWB to comply with the latest regulations in China.
The lift-up door handle design isn’t new, and is already used on BMW models like the 2 Series, 4 Series, X1, and X3, among others.
The newest regulations in China have essentially prohibited flush-fitting, electronically deployed door handles that could hinder emergency access in a critical situation.
The global iX3 features flush-fit handles that ‘pop out’ from the side of the car when the car is unlocked, and retract once the vehicle is in motion.
While electronically actuated door releases are still permissible, a number of standards regarding size, location, operating effort, ease of access and manual overrides are included in China’s rule set.
The Chinese iX3’s divergence from the design of the global model suggests BMW may move to a range of China-specific models, with the recently unveiled 2026 i3 sedan also shown with flush-fit handles that won't be permitted in China.
The same could also be true of the next-generation X5, which has been leaked in spy images that reveal no visible door handles, a feature that would likely need to change before going on sale in China.
Other changes to the Chinese version of the iX3 include different interior software with Alibaba and Deepseek AI integration, and an operating system that uses the Huawei-developed ‘HarmonyOS’ operating system.
Retuned suspension and advanced self-driving software developed specifically for the Chinese market are also included.
While European and Australian iX3 models will be built in Hungary, China’s version will be assembled at a factory in Dadong, as part of a joint venture with Chinese automaker Brilliance Auto.
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Kez Casey migrated from behind spare parts counters to writing about cars over ten years ago. Raised by a family of automotive workers, Kez grew up in workshops and panel shops before making the switch to reviews and road tests for The Motor Report, Drive and CarAdvice.
