Tesla recalls nearly 3M vehicles in China over door handle safety risks
Tesla will add warning labels and over-the-air software updates to help drivers find emergency door releases after crashes, regulators said.
- On Friday, China's State Administration for Market Regulation ordered Tesla to recall nearly 2.98 million vehicles as part of a coordinated 4.3 million-vehicle campaign across 11 automakers over emergency door handle visibility risks.
- Regulators determined that interior emergency release levers blend into trim colors, making them difficult to locate during severe crashes and electrical failures; the defect prompted mandatory warning labels and over-the-air software updates that lower windows post-collision.
- Beijing confirmed it will ban fully concealed door handles from new vehicles starting in 2027, making China the first country to phase out a design Tesla popularized and domestic EV makers widely adopted.
- At least six manufacturers, including Tesla and Xiaomi, announced their largest recalls on record. Cui Dongshu, head of the China Passenger Car Association, called the action "an inevitable step" for industry safety evolution.
- The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration continues investigating similar door-handle designs without implementing a formal ban, underscoring divergent regulatory approaches as China sets the pace for global automotive safety standards.
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243 Articles
The Chinese authorities recall millions of vehicles because of their door handles. Tesla as well as other brands come out of the models with the outhand handles, which merge with the bodywork. Their electrical system and the fact that they are not as visible as conventional handles would increase the risk in the event of accidents.
Newcastle Herald
Why Tesla has recalled three million cars
Tesla has recalled nearly three million cars in China in the country's biggest recall ever.
Dangerous door handles? Tesla is recalling almost 3m cars in China
The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced in February that it will outlaw minimalist, pop-out door handles from January 1 2027 as safety concerns mount about the feature.
The reason for this is safety concerns that concealed integrated door handles can be difficult to find and use in an emergency.
Tesla Recalls Nearly Three Million Cars In China Over Hidden Door Handles
What once looked like a sleek symbol of futuristic car design is now at the centre of China’s biggest vehicle recall. More than 4 million cars are being recalled over concerns about hidden electric door handles.The recall affects nearly 3 million China-made Teslas, along with vehicles from Chinese manufacturers including Xiaomi, XPeng and Geely. So, what went wrong with a feature designed to make cars look cleaner and more advanced? The handles …
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