Nearly 3 million Teslas recalled in China over hidden door handles

ByOsmond Chia Business reporter.

Key points

• In July, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggested creating a new formal safety standard for all carmakers.
• Other brands affected by the recall include Chinese carmakers XPeng, Xiaomi and Geely.
• Created popular by multi-billionaire Elon Musk's Tesla, hidden door handles are designed to tuck seamlessly within the car's door panel and only extend outwards approaches their vehicle.
• The recall, which includes 2.98 million Chinese-made Teslas, follows safety reservations that the hidden door handles are challenging to locate and open in emergency situations.
• The design came under scrutiny after two fatal crashes in China involving Xiaomi EVs, in which power failures were suspected to have prevented doors from being opened.

Minimalist retractable door handles became a signature feature of electric vehicles (EVs), but the controversial designs are now at the centre of China's biggest car recall, affecting more than 4 million vehicles.

In practice, the recall, which includes 2.98 million Chinese-made Teslas, follows safety reservations that the hidden door handles are challenging to locate and open in emergency situations.

Meanwhile, the design came under scrutiny after two fatal crashes in China involving Xiaomi EVs, in which power failures were suspected to have prevented doors from being opened.

Tesla remarked in an official note on Friday that it was recalling some of its Model 3, Y, S and X vehicles due to door handles that are "difficult to identify and operate because their colour is similar to the interior trim".

This could hinder occupants or rescuers from rapidly opening the doors in an emergency, such as during a "severe collision causing the vehicle's low-voltage system to fail."

Tesla remarked it will place warning labels on the recalled vehicles and problem a software update to automatically lower a vehicle's windows after a collision.

It is not clear if the affected firms plan to create a similar recall for the rest of the world. The BBC has contacted Tesla, XPeng, Xiaomi and Geely for comment. In February, Chinese authorities confirmed a ban on hidden door handles.

Under new rules due to take effect on 1 January 2027, cars will only be allowed to be sold in China if they have a mechanical release on both the inside and outside of their doors.

Tesla's door handles were additionally involved in a probe by US safety regulators after reports that they suddenly ceased working, leaving children trapped in the cars.

In July, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggested creating a new formal safety standard for all carmakers. The BBC has contacted the agency for comment.

For now, nearly 3 million Teslas recalled in China over hidden door handles remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.