BEIJING: The China EV door recall covers about 4.3 million vehicles from Tesla and eight other automakers over concerns that electronically operated doors could be difficult to open during emergencies.
Tesla, Xiaomi and other manufacturers announced recalls or software updates on Friday, while Leapmotor, Xpeng and Geely disclosed their largest-ever recalls, according to Reuters.
The safety concern centres on flush electronic door handles, which have become common on electric vehicles. They typically extend electronically and often use buttons instead of traditional mechanical opening systems.
Michael Brooks, executive director of the Centre for Auto Safety, told Reuters that occupants could face difficulty escaping if a vehicle loses power and the manual release is not obvious or easily accessible.
Tesla and eight other automakers will recall about 4.3 million vehicles in China over concerns that doors may be difficult to open in an emergency, marking the country's largest automotive recall https://t.co/ojaW6mqOAi pic.twitter.com/aoKAn803ON
— Reuters Asia (@ReutersAsia) August 22, 2026JD Power said in 2023 that door handles had become an emerging problem area as manufacturers redesigned them, with electric vehicles accounting for seven of the 10 models recording the most problems in that category.
China said in February that it would ban “hidden” door handles from 2027, becoming the first country to adopt such a restriction.
In the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in July that concerns about electronic door releases could require a new safety standard that applies across automakers.
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The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe is also drafting standards to ensure that electronic doors can be opened from both inside and outside when vehicle power is lost.
Reuters said it remained unclear whether Tesla would undertake comparable recalls in the United States or Europe.
