Tesla Recalls Nearly 3 Million Cars in China Over Emergency Door Handle Safety Risk

Tesla is recalling nearly 2.9 million locally produced electric vehicles in China after regulators raised concerns that their interior emergency door handles could make it difficult for passengers to escape following a serious crash.

China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) said the recall affects domestically manufactured Model 3 and Model Y vehicles and will begin on September 25. The regulator said the emergency mechanical handles can be difficult to identify and operate because they are similar in colour to the vehicles’ interiors.

The safety concern centres on situations where a crash causes the vehicle’s low-voltage electrical system to fail. In such circumstances, passengers could have difficulty locating and using the manual release mechanism quickly enough to leave the vehicle or allow rescuers to gain access.

Tesla is also recalling about 46,000 imported Model 3, Model X and Model S vehicles over the same emergency-handle concern. In addition, SAMR announced a separate recall involving about 2.7 million locally produced Model 3 and Model Y cars over monitoring issues linked to the use of steering-assist functions.

The latest action comes amid growing scrutiny in China over electronic and concealed door handles, which have become a common feature of modern electric vehicles. Tesla helped popularise the design, with the feature appearing on its Model S when it was launched in 2012 before being adopted by several Chinese EV manufacturers.

Other Chinese automakers, including Xiaomi, XPeng, Geely, Chery and Leapmotor, have also announced recalls involving similar door-handle safety concerns. Some manufacturers are offering warning labels around emergency mechanisms, while others plan software updates that can automatically lower windows following certain crashes.

China is moving to tighten the rules around the technology. Regulations announced by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology are expected to require vehicles sold in the country from January 1, 2027, to have mechanical release mechanisms for both interior and exterior door handles.

The recalls highlight the safety trade-off surrounding concealed electronic handles. While the designs can improve a vehicle’s appearance and slightly reduce aerodynamic drag, regulators are increasingly focused on ensuring occupants can still exit quickly when electronic systems fail after a collision