Instead of a simple, familiar mechanical latch, it’s now common for a car’s exterior door handles to remain flush against the door until the car is unlocked, requiring an electric motor to open. On ...

Have you ever been communicating with a friend via semaphore flags, trying to describe the door handle of a car, but then collapsed from exhaustion trying to describe the handle? Of course you have.

Proposed regulations in China would mean the end of flush handles on car doors, with precious little time to roll out the changes. Car door handles seem innocuous. Tesla’s electronic, retractable ones ...