Tesla is recalling nearly three million vehicles in China over concerns that their hidden door handles could become impossible to open after a severe collision. The move is part of the largest automotive recall in Chinese history, affecting a combined total of more than four million vehicles from ten automakers.
The American electric vehicle giant filed notices with China’s State Administration for Market Regulation, covering imported and locally-made Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X vehicles. Tesla said the electronically operated, retractable handles may be difficult to identify and operate because their colour blends with the interior trim, potentially hindering occupants or rescuers from quickly opening the doors in an emergency.
The design, popularised by Elon Musk‘s Tesla, tucks flush into the door panel and only extends when the owner approaches. But after two fatal crashes in China involving Xiaomi EVs, where power failures were suspected of trapping occupants, regulators began scrutinising the feature. A February announcement from Chinese authorities banned hidden handles altogether, requiring both inside and outside mechanical releases on new cars from 1 January 2027.
Tesla’s remedy includes placing warning labels on affected vehicles and issuing a remote software update that automatically lowers all windows after a collision, giving occupants and rescuers an alternative escape route. The company is also addressing a separate recall for driver-monitoring systems, using in-cabin cameras and software upgrades to ensure drivers stay alert.
Other Chinese carmakers caught up in the recall wave include XPeng, Xiaomi, Geely and Leapmotor. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the United States said Friday that the automakers have not disclosed plans for similar recalls elsewhere, even though US regulators have previously probed Tesla’s door handles after reports of failures that left children trapped inside.
Tu Le, founder of consultancy Sino Auto Insights, says the use of the hidden handle design snowballed after Chinese brands rushed to copy the sleek look of Tesla’s Model S sedan. He dismissed the solutions as a band-aid rather than a lasting fix, noting the fundamental problem lies in relying too heavily on electronic components for a critical safety feature.
