4.3 Million Cars From Tesla, Xiaomi, XPENG & 6 More Face China’s Biggest Vehicle Recall

The sleek door-handle design Tesla helped popularize has now become the focus of China’s largest-ever automotive recall, with Tesla and eight other automakers recalling about 4.3 million vehicles over concerns that doors could be difficult to open during an emergency.

The fixes range from warning labels and clearer markings to software updates, as Chinese regulators increase scrutiny of safety risks in increasingly software-driven vehicles.
 

TL;DR

 

• Tesla and eight other automakers are recalling about 4.3 million vehicles in China over emergency door-release concerns.
• Tesla accounts for 2.98 million affected Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X vehicles.
• Remedies include warning labels, clearer handle markings and remote software updates.
• China will ban concealed door handles from 2027.
• Affected companies include Tesla, Xiaomi, Leapmotor, XPENG, Zeekr, Chery, Dongfeng, BAIC BluePark, and FAW.

 

China’s Record Vehicle Recall Targets Emergency Door Release Handles

Most of the actions are classified as product recalls under Chinese regulations and center on mechanical emergency door-release handles that regulators say may be difficult to find or operate after a crash.

The issue has attracted greater scrutiny following incidents involving occupants trapped inside burning vehicles. Chinese state media reported in October that the driver of a Xiaomi SU7 died after a crash and fire because passersby were unable to open the vehicle’s doors and pull him out.

Under the recalls, automakers including Tesla and Xiaomi will install warning labels free of charge to make emergency handles easier to identify. Most will also issue over-the-air software updates.

Leapmotor said its action involves only a warning label and an upgrade to its power-window control software, adding that it was “managing and filing it in accordance with the recall process out of a sense of responsibility to our users.”

The entire list of companies recalling vehicles spans Tesla, Xiaomi, Leapmotor, XPENG, Zeekr, Chery, Dongfeng, BAIC BluePark, and FAW.
 

 

Tesla Recalls 2.98 Million Vehicles In China For Door Handle Safety Fixes

Tesla faces the largest recall among the nine automakers, covering 2.98 million imported and China-made Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X vehicles from September 25.

According to the regulatory statement, Tesla said its mechanical emergency door-release handles may be difficult to identify following a severe collision and electrical-system failure, potentially making it harder for occupants to escape or rescuers to gain access.

Tesla’s fix includes warning labels and a remote software update that automatically lowers the vehicle’s windows following a collision.

Xiaomi will recall about 390,000 vehicles, while Leapmotor will recall roughly 371,000 and XPENG about 264,000. Geely Holding also announced its largest recall on record, while the remaining companies filed considerably smaller actions.
 

 

China Tightens EV Door Handle Rules Ahead Of 2027 Concealed Handle Ban

The record recall arrives as Beijing intensifies oversight of the electric vehicle (EV) industry amid a fierce price war and rapid deployment of new vehicle technologies.

China has already said it will ban concealed door handles from 2027, becoming the first country to phase out the design popularized by Tesla and widely adopted by Chinese EV manufacturers.

The issue is also attracting attention in the US. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said last month that it would consider new safety standards addressing the risk of occupants becoming trapped when vehicles lose electrical power.

However, NHTSA said late Friday that automakers had not notified the agency of plans for a similar US recall.