Tesla recalls nearly three million cars in China over safety flaws

Tesla faces a massive recall in China, with nearly three million electric vehicles being called back due to safety issues concerning their retractable door handles. China's market regulator has stated that the mechanical emergency release for these handles is not sufficiently visible on some Tesla models. The company had popularized the retractable door handle technology, which retracts flush with the car body.

The recall encompasses both vehicles manufactured in China and those imported into the country. Tesla plans to address the problem by adding additional warning labels and implementing a software update. This update aims to ensure that the car windows can be opened after an accident, a crucial step given that the electric door openers may not function if the power supply is cut off.

Retractable door handles have been under scrutiny for some time due to safety concerns. Chinese authorities had previously indicated their intention to ban this type of handle starting next year. Reports from China have highlighted incidents where electric cars caught fire, and rescuers struggled to open doors to free occupants. In one tragic case, a driver died after their car caught fire following an accident, with the doors blocked.

In a separate recall, Tesla is also addressing issues with driver monitoring systems in approximately 2.7 million vehicles. Chinese regulators believe the current system, which relies on steering wheel torque, is not sufficient to reliably detect if a driver is looking away from the road. Tesla will use the interior camera to monitor the driver's attention as part of an update. A significant portion of the recalled vehicles is likely subject to both recall actions.