Tesla recall: China orders 4.3M EVs back over door-handle safety

China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has ordered a massive Tesla recall and recalls affecting other EV makers over safety concerns. The action covers about 4.3 million vehicles from nine automakers, with the Tesla recall accounting for roughly 2.98 million units. The core issue is door-handle entrapment risk. Flush or retractable exterior electronic handles may be hard to open when a crash damages the electrical system and occupants cannot find the mechanical emergency release. Most affected vehicles are expected to receive free warning labels pointing drivers to the override mechanism. Tesla will also roll out an over-the-air (OTA) software update designed to automatically lower windows after a collision is detected, creating an alternative exit path if doors remain stuck. The affected fleet is mainly China-built Model 3 and Model Y cars, with a smaller number of imported units. The recall extends beyond Tesla to other Chinese EV brands including Xiaomi, Leapmotor, and XPeng, though their affected volumes are smaller. SAMR’s multi-maker scope suggests the regulator views this as an industry-wide design approach problem. Separately, Tesla is also facing another recall for about 2.74 million China-made Model 3 and Model Y vehicles (produced through late 2025). This one targets driver-monitoring systems for assisted driving, moving from steering-wheel torque detection to cabin-camera eye-tracking via OTA updates. SAMR is also tightening rules: concealed electronic door handle designs must include manual override mechanisms for new models starting in 2027, which could render current flush-handle approaches obsolete without physical backups.