China orders the recall of approximately 4.3 million vehicles from nine automakers over safety defects related to flush-mounted door handles. Tesla accounts for the vast majority with approximately 2.98 million units, primarily China-built Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. The issue centers on occupants being unable to open doors in emergencies when the vehicle’s electrical system fails, as these handles lack visible mechanical backup releases. Tesla will deploy over-the-air software updates to automatically lower windows after a collision is detected to facilitate evacuation. A simultaneous recall covers approximately 2.74 million additional Tesla vehicles for driver-monitoring system upgrades, requiring the transition from steering wheel torque detection to cabin-camera eye-tracking technology. SAMR views this as an industry-wide design philosophy problem and will mandate manual override mechanisms for all new vehicle models equipped with electronic door handles starting in 2027.
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