Millions of Teslas recalled in China over door handle safety

Tesla is recalling nearly three million vehicles in China due to potential safety issues with interior door handles. The recall, initiated by China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), affects 2.9 million Model 3 and Model Y electric cars produced domestically. The recall takes effect on September 25, with some vehicles recalled immediately, while others began over the weekend and on Monday.

The issue arises from door handles that blend in with the interior, making them difficult to identify and operate in emergency situations. In Tesla's Model 3, for instance, passengers must manually open rear doors using a release cable in the door pocket. In extreme cases, such as severe collisions causing the vehicle's low-voltage system to fail, these handles may hinder passengers' ability to quickly exit the car, posing a safety risk.

Additionally, Tesla is recalling around 46,000 imported units of its Model 3, Model X, and Model S cars. Chinese EV manufacturers, including Xiaomi, XPeng, Geely, Chery, and Leapmotor, are also recalling cars with similar door handles. Xiaomi began recalling 390,000 units of its 2024 SU7 series, while XPeng started recalling nearly 265,000 vehicles.

BAIC BluePark, a subsidiary of state-owned automaker BAIC, began recalling around 46,000 Arcfox Kaola EVs due to a lack of dedicated text prompts near the emergency mechanism on the right rear sliding door. Geely, another Chinese luxury brand, plans to recall around 92,000 vehicles from its Zeekr brand starting Monday.

Chinese authorities have been increasingly concerned about safety in recent years, particularly regarding sleek car designs that may malfunction in crashes. The mass recalls align with China's plan to ban hidden door handles on vehicles from January 1, 2027, requiring both interior and exterior mechanical releases. Companies have offered to provide free warning labels and offer remote software upgrades to address the issue.