Tesla announced a China car recall EV door handles issue on Friday, saying it is recalling nearly 3 million vehicles in China after finding doors may be difficult to open in an emergency. The company said the problem affects imported and China-made Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X vehicles.
The recall covers about 2.98 million vehicles and is described as the largest automotive recall in China’s history. Tesla filed notices with China’s State Administration for Market Regulation, which puts the repair process on a formal track for affected owners.
Tesla Model 3 and Model Y
Tesla said the concern centers on electronically operated, retractable door handles that could become difficult to operate after a severe collision if the vehicle’s low-voltage system fails. In that case, Tesla said, the problem could hinder occupants from quickly opening the doors to escape and impede rescue efforts by those outside the vehicle, posing a safety hazard.
For owners, the practical next step depends on which fix their vehicle can take. Tesla said it will affix warning labels to affected vehicles and remotely upgrade its window-control software so the windows automatically lower following an accident. It also said it will contact owners of vehicles that cannot receive the fixes through remote software updates to schedule service appointments.
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation
The scale of the recall puts it ahead of a separate set of actions announced on the same Friday. Tesla and eight other automakers announced recalls that affected a combined total of about 4.3 million vehicles in China, with Xiaomi, Leapmotor, Xpeng and Geely Holding among the companies involved.
Tesla also issued a recall addressing problems with driver-monitoring systems in certain vehicles. In that action, the company said it would provide a software upgrade and in-cabin camera monitoring to help drivers remain vigilant.
Friday and eight other automakers
Steve Sosnick, Interactive Brokers chief strategist, was among the outside market voices tied to the day’s wider auto-safety discussion. For Tesla owners, the immediate issue is not whether a recall exists, but whether their vehicle qualifies for a remote fix or a service visit, because the company said both routes will be used.
