Key facts
- Tesla is recalling 2.98 million vehicles in China.
- The recall affects Model 3, Y, S, and X vehicles.
- Safety concerns involve retractable door handles being difficult to identify and operate in emergencies.
- Other affected brands include XPeng, Xiaomi, and Geely.
- New Chinese regulations requiring mechanical door releases take effect January 1, 2027.
China has initiated its largest-ever automotive recall, encompassing over 4 million vehicles, including nearly 3 million Teslas, due to safety concerns surrounding retractable door handles. The recall, which also affects Chinese manufacturers XPeng, Xiaomi, and Geely, stems from worries that the minimalist, flush-fitting handles can be difficult to locate and operate, particularly in emergency situations.
Tesla stated that the design of the handles on its Model 3, Y, S, and X vehicles, which blend in due to similar coloring with interior trim, could impede occupants or rescuers from quickly opening doors after a severe collision that might disable the vehicle's low-voltage system. The company plans to address this by fitting warning labels and implementing a software update that automatically lowers the vehicle's windows post-collision.
The scrutiny on this design intensified following two fatal crashes in China involving Xiaomi EVs, where power failures were suspected to have prevented door opening. New regulations set to take effect in China on January 1, 2027, will mandate that all cars sold in the country must feature mechanical release mechanisms on both the interior and exterior of their doors, addressing the safety risks associated with hidden handles.