Tesla Recalls 3 Million Cars in China for Door Handle Safety Issues
Tesla and several Chinese automakers are initiating a significant recall of over 4 million vehicles due to safety issues primarily associated with their door handles, as reported by Chinese authorities on Friday. The US carmaker is recalling approximately 2.98 million electric vehicles produced in China and imported, including the Model 3, Model Y, Model X, and Model S, due to safety risks associated with door handles, as reported by China’s State Administration for Market Regulation. The recall, the largest this year according to sources, follows a statement from Chinese authorities in February indicating that starting next year, there will be a ban on hidden car door handles, a feature commonly found on Tesla electric vehicles and numerous Chinese EV models.
China has recently intensified its examination of concealed, or flush, car door handles in response to electric vehicle accidents both domestically and internationally, where the malfunctioning hidden electronic doors have resulted in individuals being trapped inside vehicles. In a notice on the website of the Chinese regulator, safety risk was cited. In extreme situations, such as a severe collision resulting in an electrical system failure, the car handles may impede users from swiftly opening the doors to escape, or obstruct rescuers from accessing the vehicle, according to the notice. Some experts in the industry indicated that automakers ought to prioritise safety over design.
Cui Dongshu, called the recall “an inevitable step” in the development of the electric vehicle industry and said automakers were “being responsible” by moving toward a more reliable, “safety-first” approach. “This represents, in part, the growing pains of the industry. At the same time, however, this move signifies a policy-driven safety upgrade,” said Cui. Tesla will implement software updates on the vehicles to address potential risks, the notice indicated. Tesla did not provide an immediate response to a request for comment on Friday. Xiaomi, the Beijing-based Chinese technology giant, is recalling over 390,000 vehicles. Leapmotor, headquartered in Hangzhou, is initiating a recall affecting more than 370,000 vehicles.
Other Chinese automakers, including Geely and XPENG, are also initiating recalls for certain vehicles. The explanations provided in each instance were analogous, primarily concerning complications with their vehicle door handles. A report stated that the large-scale recall “serves as a unified safety upgrade” for existing vehicle models ahead of the 2027 implementation of the ban on hidden car door handles. “For the rapidly evolving NEV (new energy vehicle) industry, competition should be defined not only by the pace of technological innovation but also by the high standards set for safety,” the newspaper said.
