Tesla revealed on Friday that it is recalling close to three million vehicles in China due to concerns about the emergency operability of the doors, which represents the largest recall in the nation’s automotive history.
This recall coincides with similar actions taken by eight other car manufacturers, collectively impacting around 4.3 million vehicles across China.
Out of this, Tesla’s recall stands out as the largest, involving about 2.98 million vehicles.
The U.S.-based company indicated that the recall pertains to both imported and locally produced Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X vehicles, based on filings made with China’s State Administration for Market Regulation.
A notice associated with the recall stated that Tesla’s electronically operated, retractable door handles may become hard to use following a severe collision if the low-voltage system of the vehicle fails.
The company warned that this malfunction could make it difficult for occupants to quickly open the doors for evacuation and could complicate rescue efforts from outside, posing a potential safety risk.
To remedy the situation, Tesla plans to place warning labels on the affected vehicles and upgrade its window-control software remotely, ensuring that windows automatically lower in the event of an accident.
Additionally, Tesla is addressing issues with driver-monitoring systems in certain models, which are meant to keep drivers alert and ready to take control of the vehicle when needed.
The automaker is set to implement a software upgrade along with “in-cabin camera monitoring” to aid in maintaining driver vigilance.
For vehicles unable to receive fixes through remote updates, Tesla will be reaching out to owners to arrange service appointments.
Other manufacturers that issued recalls include Xiaomi, Leapmotor, Xpeng, and Geely Holding.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration noted that these automakers have not indicated plans for similar recalls in the U.S.
This news follows two recalls Tesla announced in May, which involved approximately 175 Cybertrucks due to concerns over wheel studs potentially separating, and more than 218,000 Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X vehicles due to delayed rearview camera images that could elevate crash risks.
Tesla has been contacted for further comments regarding this situation.
