Nearly three million Teslas recalled in China over hidden door handles
Minimalist, hidden door handles, once a popular design feature of electric vehicles (EVs), have become the focus of China’s largest vehicle recall, involving more than four million cars.
The recall includes about 2.98 million Teslas manufactured in China and comes amid concerns that the concealed handles can be difficult to find and operate during emergencies.
Other automakers affected include Chinese manufacturers XPeng, Xiaomi and Geely.
As part of the recall measures, affected vehicles will receive interior warning labels and a software update designed to automatically lower the windows following a crash.
Concerns over the design intensified after two fatal crashes in China involving Xiaomi electric vehicles, where suspected power failures may have prevented occupants from opening the doors.
Tesla said on Friday that it was recalling certain Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X vehicles because the door handles can be difficult to locate and operate due to their similar colour to the interior trim.
The company said that in severe crashes that cause a failure of the vehicle’s low-voltage system, occupants could struggle to open the doors quickly, potentially delaying their escape and making rescue efforts more difficult.
Tesla said the recalled vehicles would receive warning stickers, while a software update would enable the windows to automatically lower after a collision.
It remains uncertain whether the affected manufacturers will introduce similar recalls in other markets.
The widespread use of concealed handles has grown rapidly as Chinese automakers adopted the sleek design popularised by Tesla’s Model S from 2014, according to Tu Le, founder of consultancy Sino Auto Insights.
He described the planned warning labels and software update as more of a temporary fix than a permanent solution.
Chinese authorities announced a ban on hidden door handles in February. Under regulations scheduled to come into force on January 1, 2027, vehicles sold in China must have mechanical door releases accessible from both inside and outside.
Tesla’s door handles have also faced scrutiny from US safety regulators following reports of failures that left children trapped inside vehicles.
In July, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed introducing a new formal safety standard covering door-handle systems across the automotive industry.
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