Nearly 3 million Teslas recalled in China over hidden door handles

What the report says

China has ordered a major recall tied to retractable, hidden-style door handles used on electric vehicles, affecting more than 4 million cars and drawing attention to a design that has become common in modern EVs. According to BBC World News, the recall includes 2.98 million Chinese-made Teslas, along with vehicles from Chinese brands XPeng, Xiaomi and Geely.

BBC World News reported that Tesla said the affected models include some Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X vehicles. The company said the door handles can be difficult to identify and operate because their color resembles the interior trim, which could make it harder for occupants or rescuers to open doors quickly in an emergency, especially if the low-voltage system fails after a serious crash. Tesla said it will add warning labels and push a software update that can automatically lower windows after a collision.

The recall comes after safety concerns intensified following two fatal crashes in China involving Xiaomi EVs, where power failures were suspected of preventing doors from opening. In February, Chinese authorities announced a ban on hidden door handles, and new rules expected to take effect on 1 January 2027 would require mechanical releases on both the inside and outside of doors for cars sold in China. BBC World News also noted that Tesla’s door handles have faced scrutiny in the United States in a separate safety probe.