Tesla and other Chinese car manufacturers announced a collection of more than four million vehicles due to safety concerns mainly related to door handles, the Chinese authorities informed this Friday.
© Lusa
22/08/2026
by
Lusa
A american manufacturer is calling about 2.98 million electric vehicles produced in China and imported, including Model 3, Model Y, Model X and Model S models, due to risks associated with door handles, according to the State Administration for China Market Regulation.
The collection, the largest of this year according to the Chinese press, appears a few months after the authorities announced in February that from next year the use of hidden handles, common in Tesla electric vehicles and in many Chinese models, will be prohibited.
China has recently intensified scrutiny of hidden or embedded handles after accidents where electronic doors failed and people were trapped inside cars.
In a notice published on the Chinese regulator’s website, the safety risk was mentioned: in extreme situations, such as a serious collision that causes electrical failure, the handles may hinder the rapid opening of doors by the occupants or prevent the access of the rescuers.
Some industry experts have stated that manufacturers should value safety above design.
Cui Dongshu, leader of the Chinese Passenger Automobile Association, classified collection as “an inevitable step” in the development of the electric vehicle industry and said that manufacturers are being “responsible” by adopting a reliable and safety-centered approach.
“ This movement represents, in part, the growth pains of industry. At the same time, it means a policy-driven security update,” Cui added.
Tesla will perform software updates on vehicles to mitigate the risks, as advised. The company did not immediately respond to comments.
For its part, Xiaomi, a technology giant based in Beijing, will take off the market more than 390,000 vehicles, with Leapmotor, from Hangzhou, withdrawing more than 370,000. Other Chinese manufacturers, including Geely and XPENG, also announced collections. The reasons presented were similar, mainly related to problems in the door handles.
An article published by the People's Diary, official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, stated that the large-scale collection “works as a unified security update” for existing models before the implementation of the ban on hidden handles in 2027.
“ For the rapidly evolving new-energy vehicle industry, competition must be defined not only by the pace of technological innovation, but also by the high safety standards,” the newspaper added.