Nearly 3 million Teslas among record 4 million cars recalled in China over hidden door handles
China has ordered its largest-ever car recall, covering more than 4 million vehicles including nearly 3 million Chinese-built Teslas, after concerns that flush-fitting door handles are hard to find and use in emergencies.
China has launched its biggest automotive recall on record, affecting more than 4 million vehicles, including nearly 3 million Chinese-made Tesla cars. The action targets retractable, or hidden, door handles — a design popularised by electric vehicles — which regulators say can be difficult to locate and operate during emergencies.
Aside from Tesla, the recall also covers vehicles from Chinese manufacturers XPeng, Xiaomi and Geely. The flush door handle design, made famous by Elon Musk's Tesla, tucks into the door panel and extends outward only when the driver approaches the vehicle.
Scrutiny of the design intensified after two fatal crashes in China involving Xiaomi electric vehicles, in which power failures were suspected of preventing occupants from opening the doors.
In a statement issued on Friday, Tesla said it would recall a number of its Model 3, Y, S and X vehicles because the door handles' colour is too similar to the interior trim, making them hard to identify and use. The company said this could delay occupants or rescuers trying to open doors quickly in a serious collision that causes the vehicle's low-voltage system to fail. Tesla said it will fit warning labels to the recalled cars and roll out a software update that automatically lowers the windows after a crash.
It remains unclear whether the affected manufacturers intend to carry out similar recalls in other markets.
In February, Chinese authorities announced a ban on hidden door handles. Under rules taking effect on 1 January 2027, cars sold in China will be required to have a mechanical release handle on both the inside and outside of each door.
Tesla's door handles have also been the subject of a US safety investigation, following reports that they suddenly stopped working and left children trapped inside vehicles. In July, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed developing a formal safety standard covering all carmakers.
