China orders recall of 3 million vehicles over door handle safety flaws
The State Administration for Market Regulation has mandated the largest recall in Tesla’s history, citing electronic door handles that may impede passenger exit during collisions.
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation has announced the recall of more than 2.9 million Tesla Model 3s and Model Ys manufactured in the country between 2019 and 2026. The move marks the largest recall in Tesla’s history and stems from safety concerns regarding the vehicle’s electronic, retractable door handles. Regulators have increasingly questioned the design, which has been imitated by numerous competitors, for potentially making it difficult for passengers to exit quickly or for rescue crews to access occupants during crashes.
The remediation process will largely rely on over-the-air software updates designed to lower the windows after a collision, reducing the risk of passengers becoming trapped. However, physical interventions are also required. Owners will receive free warning stickers to help locate emergency mechanical handles, which are currently difficult to identify because they are coloured similarly to the rest of the vehicle’s interior. These mechanical handles are critical in the event that the low-voltage battery fails, as this battery powers the onboard computers and electronic door mechanisms rather than the car’s main propulsion system.
The recall extends beyond Tesla, with the Chinese government simultaneously ordering the recall of more than one million vehicles from eight other domestic automakers for similar flush door handle safety concerns. The affected manufacturers include Beijing Automotive, Chery, Dongfeng, First Auto Works, Geely, Leapmotor, Xiaomi, and Xpeng. In a separate action, nearly 50,000 imported Tesla Model 3s, Model Xs, and Model Ss were recalled due to insufficient monitoring of drivers using assisted steering technology, a feature regulators said increased the risk of collisions.
For the imported Tesla vehicles, fixes will involve software updates or the installation of new in-cabin cameras to ensure drivers are paying sufficient attention while operating the vehicle. The exact split between vehicles requiring physical camera updates and those needing only software fixes has not been specified. Tesla did not respond to requests for comment regarding the official stance or internal assessment of the issues.
The recalls occur against a backdrop of growing criticism in both the United States and China, where lawsuits have been filed by families of crash victims alleging that the door handle design contributed to fatalities. China has taken a more aggressive regulatory approach to new automotive technology than other nations, introducing rules earlier this year that will soon ban fully retractable door handles. The country also established tighter regulations for autonomous vehicle operations and data generation in 2021, reflecting a broader shift towards governing software-centric vehicles.
Meanwhile, the top road regulator in the United States has begun examining whether similar rules governing door handle design are necessary. This regulatory scrutiny highlights the challenges of integrating advanced technology into safety-critical components, a factor that investors and institutions are increasingly monitoring as the automotive sector evolves.
