China is recalling about 4.3 million vehicles, including those from Tesla and eight other automakers, due to concerns that car doors may be difficult to open in an emergency.
The recall, which is the country’s largest automotive recall ever, according to a report, involves electronic door handles that are flush with the cars’ bodies and require an electric current to operate. They offer aerodynamic advantages and make the cars look sleeker.
These handles extend out from the flush surface to present the handle, which is then pulled on to open the door. However, if electricity is not available, either due to a severe crash or some other interruption, the door handles won’t work.
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Tesla accounts for the biggest portion of the recall, covering 2.98 million vehicles, while Chinese automakers Xiaomi, Leapmotor, and Xpeng are also undertaking their largest recalls on record.
The financial cost may be limited because software can fix part of the problem remotely. The remedies are relatively straightforward in many cases, involving warning labels and over-the-air software updates.
Tesla’s remedy includes warning labels and an update delivered remotely that automatically lowers vehicle windows after a collision, according to Tesla’s statement to the Chinese State Administration for Market Regulation.
The recall does not affect Teslas in the US, but the door handles have also drawn scrutiny from US regulators. Last month, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it would consider new safety standards to address the risk of occupant entrapment in vehicles during electrical power failures.
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China has taken a more drastic measure, banning electronic door handles starting in 2027. The reputational and regulatory implications of the recall could be significant, and it remains to be seen how the affected automakers will address the issue in the long term.
The recall is a significant development in the global automotive industry.
Other countries will likely respond to the issue, and the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will continue to monitor the situation and consider new safety standards to address the risk of occupant entrapment in vehicles during electrical power failures. As the situation unfolds, more information about the recall and its implications for the automotive industry will become available.
