In Depth: Are China’s Futuristic EV Designs Sacrificing Safety for Style?

As Chinese automakers race to define the look of the electric-vehicle (EV) era with bold, futuristic designs, a growing safety backlash is forcing an engineering reality check.

In October, a fatal crash in Chengdu, Sichuan involving Xiaomi Corp.’s SU7 sedan drew national attention when passersby were unable to open the vehicle’s hidden, power-operated door handles. The EV lost power and caught fire, killing the driver. The tragedy came as regulators were already reviewing a draft standard that could effectively outlaw flush handles — a once-fashionable feature popularized by Tesla Inc.