Tesla and others begin record vehicle recall in China

Tesla and eight other automakers are initiating a recall of about 4.3 million vehicles in China, citing concerns that doors might be difficult to open during emergencies. This action represents the largest automotive recall in the country's history.

The recall remedies vary among manufacturers but generally include software updates, the installation of warning labels, and enhancements to the markings around door handles. Beijing has intensified its oversight of the electric vehicle industry this year, implementing stricter safety regulations as automakers engage in a competitive price war while introducing new technologies in the world's largest auto market.

Furthermore, China has announced plans to ban concealed door handles starting in 2027, becoming the first nation to phase out a design popularized by Tesla and widely adopted by domestic Chinese EV manufacturers. While Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment, Geely and Xpeng declined to comment, and Xiaomi stated it had no additional information beyond the regulatory notice.

Leapmotor affirmed its commitment to safety, describing its upgrade as involving only a warning label and power-window control software enhancement, which it is managing and filing as a recall out of responsibility to users. Most of the actions, classified as product recalls under Chinese regulations, address emergency mechanical door-release handles that regulators believe may be hard to locate or operate in a crash. This issue has drawn scrutiny following several incidents where passengers were reportedly trapped inside burning vehicles.

The scale of this recall underscores both the vastness of China's auto fleet and the growing assertiveness of regulators in scrutinizing safety defects, particularly as vehicles become increasingly reliant on software. Automakers, including Tesla and Xiaomi, will provide free warning labels, and most will also implement over-the-air software updates. Tesla's recall is the most extensive, reflecting the high volume of vehicles it has sold equipped with this type of handle.