TESLA AND 10 OTHER CARMAKERS RECALL 4.3M VEHICLES IN CHINA

Tesla and ten other automakers have recalled nearly 4.3 million vehicles in China over safety concerns related to hidden door handles, according to reports citing Chinese regulatory data. Tesla accounts for approximately 3 million of those recalled vehicles, affecting imported and China-made Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X units. The recall represents China's largest automotive recall to date. The manufacturers will install warning labels at no cost to identify the concealed handles and will issue software updates that automatically lower vehicle windows following a collision.

The door handles pose a safety risk if a vehicle's electrical system fails during a crash or fire, potentially trapping occupants inside. Recent incidents in China have illustrated the danger, including a fatal crash involving a Xiaomi sedan where bystanders were unable to open the doors to rescue a trapped driver. Nine manufacturers, including Tesla, Xiaomi, Xpeng, Geely's Zeekr and Lynk & Co., are participating in the label installation programme. All eleven companies are implementing the software fixes to assist passenger escape and aid rescue operations.

China has announced plans to ban hidden door handles outright by 2027, requiring all vehicles to have mechanical releases on both interior and exterior doors that function without electrical power. Tesla design head Franz von Holzhausen stated the company is considering a redesign combining electronic and manual release mechanisms into a single button. The United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has also opened an investigation into Tesla's electronic door handles over similar safety concerns.