Tesla recalls 3 million cars in China: Here’s what went wrong

China has announced one of the country’s largest vehicle recall campaigns with approximately 4.3 million vehicles from Tesla and several other automakers set to be recalled over a potential safety problem involving vehicle doors.

BEIJING: China has announced one of the country’s largest vehicle recall campaigns with approximately 4.3 million vehicles from Tesla and several other automakers set to be recalled over a potential safety problem involving vehicle doors.

According to China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), nearly 2.98 million Tesla vehicles are included in the recall. The affected vehicles include imported and China-produced versions of the Model 3, Model Y, Model X and Model S.

The main safety concern involves the possibility that passengers could have difficulty opening the doors after a serious accident. If a crash damages the vehicle’s electrical system, occupants may struggle to locate or operate the mechanical emergency door release.

This could potentially make it more difficult for passengers to escape the vehicle or for emergency responders to open the doors during a rescue operation.

Tesla plans to address the issue through a software update and warning labels designed to make the location of emergency door handles easier to identify.

The recall is not limited to Tesla. Several Chinese automakers, including Xiaomi, Leapmotor, XPeng and Geely, are also included in the wider recall campaign.

The issue has drawn particular attention because modern vehicles increasingly use electronic or flush-mounted door handles. While these designs offer a streamlined appearance, concerns have been raised about how occupants can exit a vehicle if the electrical system fails following a serious collision.

China announced earlier this year that it would introduce restrictions on hidden or flush door handles from 2027. The move followed safety concerns arising from accidents in which passengers could potentially become trapped inside vehicles after electronic door mechanisms failed.

For Tesla, the latest action represents its largest recall in China to date affecting nearly three million vehicles.

The recall highlights the growing importance of emergency exit systems as vehicles become increasingly dependent on electronic technology. Although recalls are intended to address potential safety risks before they lead to further incidents, the scale of the latest campaign has put renewed attention on vehicle door designs and emergency mechanisms.

Tesla owners in China will need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the required software update and safety-related measures.