China has ordered a major vehicle recall involving Tesla and other automakers over concerns that occupants could struggle to open doors after a serious crash.
BEIJING: China has announced one of its largest vehicle recall campaigns, with about 4.3 million vehicles from Tesla and several other automakers set to be recalled over a potential safety issue involving emergency door operation.
According to China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), nearly 2.98 million Tesla vehicles are included in the recall. The affected vehicles comprise imported and China-produced versions of the Model 3, Model Y, Model X and Model S.
The main safety concern is that passengers could have difficulty opening vehicle doors after a serious crash. If a collision damages the vehicle’s electrical system, occupants may struggle to locate or operate the mechanical emergency door release.
The problem could make it harder for passengers to escape a damaged vehicle or for emergency responders to open the doors during rescue operations.
Tesla plans to address the issue through a software update and warning labels intended to make the location of mechanical emergency door handles easier for occupants to identify.
The recall extends beyond Tesla, with several Chinese automakers, including Xiaomi, Leapmotor, XPeng and Geely, also included in the wider campaign.
The issue has drawn attention to the increasing use of electronic and flush-mounted door handles in modern vehicles. While such designs can give vehicles a streamlined appearance, they have also raised safety concerns over whether occupants can quickly exit when a vehicle loses electrical power after a serious collision.
China announced earlier this year that it would introduce restrictions on hidden or flush-mounted door handles from 2027, following safety concerns over incidents in which passengers could potentially become trapped when electronic door mechanisms fail.
For Tesla, the latest action represents its largest recall in China to date, affecting nearly 3 million vehicles.
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