Tesla and other automakers begin record vehicle recall in China
The automakers said they will recall a total of about 4.3 million vehicles over concerns that doors may be difficult to open in an emergency.
Tesla has launched a record vehicle recall in China, affecting approximately 4.3 million vehicles, marking the country's largest automotive recall to date. The recall includes a range of solutions, from software updates to warning labels and enhanced markings around door handles, aiming to improve emergency door-opening in cases of accidents.
China has recently implemented stricter safety regulations, making this recall a response to ensure vehicle safety in the world's largest vehicle market. In addition to Tesla, eight other automakers, including Geely and Xpeng, are also recalling vehicles due to concerns over the concealment of door handles, which could impede emergency escape or rescue operations.
The recall process involves installing warning labels at no cost and deploying over-the-air software updates to address the issue. Tesla's recall is the most extensive, reflecting the number of vehicles it has sold with this specific type of door handle. This issue has come to light following several cases where passengers were trapped inside burning vehicles due to the difficulty in opening doors during a crash.
Chinese state media reported in October that a driver of a Xiaomi SU7 sedan lost his life during a crash and fire because passersby were unable to open the doors to assist him. The recall targets emergency mechanical door-release handles that regulators have identified as potentially difficult to locate or operate in emergency situations.
Apart from Tesla, Leapmotor, Xpeng, and Geely Holding have announced their largest recalls on record, according to their filings with the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR). Xiaomi, which will recall about 390,000 vehicles, will focus on a warning label and power-window control software upgrade as part of its response to the recall process.
Leapmotor is managing this upgrade by issuing a warning label and updating the power-window control software, emphasizing its commitment to safety and adherence to the recall procedure. Xpeng plans to recall approximately 264,000 vehicles, while Geely is addressing a smaller number of units. The cost of these actions may be limited, as modern over-the-air updates help reduce the expenses and downtime associated with significant recalls.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
