Nearly 3M Teslas recalled in China over hidden door handles
Minimalistic retractable door handles became a signature feature of electric vehicles (EVs), but the controversial designs are now at the centre of China’s biggest car recall, affecting more than 4 million vehicles. The recall, which includes 2.98 million Chinese-made Teslas, follows safety concerns that the hidden door handles are difficult to locate and open in […]
In a significant safety recall, over 2.98 million Chinese-made Teslas are being pulled from the roads in China, with other affected brands including XPeng, Xiaomi, and Geely. The recall centers around the controversial hidden door handles, a design element that has become a signature feature of electric vehicles. Safety concerns have arisen as these handles are difficult to locate and operate, particularly during emergency situations such as low-voltage system failures in the event of a severe collision.
This issue has come to light after two fatal crashes in China involving Xiaomi EVs, where power failures were suspected to have hindered door opening. Tesla has placed warning labels on the recalled vehicles and plans to issue a software update that automatically lowers windows after a collision. The use of the hidden handle design has gained popularity among Chinese brands, who have quickly adopted the "sleek" look popularized by Tesla's Model S sedan since 2014.
However, industry experts warn that warning labels and software updates are merely temporary fixes to the issue, as a new ban on hidden door handles takes effect in China on January 1, 2027.
Written by urgent.news from People Daily Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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