China's market regulator ordered a recall of 2.98 million domestically produced Teslas on Friday, the largest single-brand action in a sweeping campaign that covers more than four million vehicles from multiple manufacturers. The move targets flush door handles that blend into interior trim and can become impossible to operate when a crash kills the low-voltage electrical system.
The scope and the fix
Tesla said the affected Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X units have handles whose colour matches the surrounding cabin material, making them hard to locate and pull in an emergency. The remedy consists of a warning label applied to the interior door panel and a software update designed to drop the windows automatically after a collision. XPeng, Xiaomi and Geely are also included in the recall, though the regulator did not break out their individual volumes.
Why regulators moved now
The action follows two fatal crashes in China involving Xiaomi EVs where power loss was suspected of trapping occupants inside. In February, authorities announced a ban on hidden handles altogether; starting 1 January 2027, every new car sold in China must have a mechanical release on both sides of each door. Tu Le, founder of Sino Auto Insights, said the flush design "snowballed" after local brands rushed to copy the look Tesla introduced on the Model S in 2014. He described the label-and-software approach as a band-aid rather than a durable solution.
The US dimension
Tesla's handles have also drawn scrutiny in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a probe after reports that the handles failed to present, leaving children trapped inside parked cars. In July the agency floated the idea of a new formal safety standard that would apply to all manufacturers.
What comes next
None of the affected companies have said whether they will extend similar repairs to vehicles sold outside China. With the 2027 mechanical-release deadline approaching, the industry faces a choice between redesigning door hardware for a single market or making the change globally.