Why nearly 3 million Teslas are being recalled in China
BEIJING — Nearly three million China-made Tesla vehicles are being recalled over a feature that helped define the modern electric car: hidden door handles that regulators fear could make it harder for passengers and rescuers to open vehicles after a serious crash.
The recall covers about 2.98 million Tesla Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X vehicles manufactured in China, according to the BBC. Tesla says the affected vehicles have door handles that may be difficult to identify and operate because their colour is similar to surrounding interior trim.
The concern becomes considerably more serious when a vehicle loses electrical power.
Tesla acknowledged that in an extreme situation such as a severe collision causing the low-voltage system to fail, occupants could struggle to open the doors quickly while emergency responders outside the vehicle could also have difficulty gaining access.
Tesla plans to address the problem by adding warning labels and issuing a software update designed to automatically lower the windows following a collision. It remains unclear whether similar recalls will be introduced in other countries.
The Tesla recall forms part of a much larger intervention by Chinese authorities affecting more than four million vehicles. Other manufacturers affected include Xiaomi, XPeng and Geely, showing that the problem extends beyond Tesla to a design feature increasingly common across the electric vehicle industry.
Flush and retractable handles became particularly associated with electric vehicles after Tesla popularised them. Instead of a conventional handle that remains permanently accessible, the mechanism sits flush with the vehicle body and extends or activates when required.
Manufacturers have used the design to create cleaner bodywork and improve aerodynamics, but concerns about emergency access have intensified as more vehicles adopt electronically controlled doors.
According to the BBC, scrutiny increased following two fatal crashes involving Xiaomi electric vehicles in China in which electrical failures were suspected of preventing doors from being opened.
China is now moving beyond recalls to change the rules governing future vehicles.
From 1 January 2027, new cars sold in the country will be required to have mechanical door-opening mechanisms on both the inside and outside. The requirement effectively means manufacturers will no longer be able to depend entirely on electrically operated hidden handles for emergency access.
The issue is also attracting attention outside China. The United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has examined concerns involving electronically operated door handles, and in July recommended the development of new formal safety standards covering vehicle doors.
For South African motorists, there is currently no indication in the BBC report that the Chinese recall has been extended to Tesla vehicles or other affected brands sold locally.
The wider significance, however, extends beyond one manufacturer or market. Hidden handles have become a familiar feature on newer electric and premium vehicles, and China’s decision puts pressure on manufacturers to demonstrate that increasingly sophisticated vehicle technology still provides a simple mechanical way out when the electronics stop working.
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