Eleven carmakers launch China's largest recall over EV door handles

AI digestMimile.ai EditorialAugust 21, 2026 at 03:54 PM

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Eleven carmakers launch China's largest recall over EV door handles

Eleven carmakers, including Tesla and Xiaomi, launched software updates and vehicle recalls on Friday in China's largest-ever automotive recall campaign. The actions address concerns that emergency mechanical door release handles may be difficult to locate or operate during emergencies. Tesla alone will recall 2.98 million vehicles from September 25.

Key Facts

Tesla will recall 2.98 million imported and China-made Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X vehicles from September 25.
China is set to ban concealed or hidden door handles from 2027, becoming the first country to phase out the design.
At least six car brands, including Tesla, Xiaomi, Leapmotor, Xpeng, Zeekr and Lynk & Co, announced their largest recalls on record on Friday.
Nine of the 11 automakers will install warning labels free of charge to identify the emergency handles.

Recall Scope

Eleven carmakers, including Tesla and Xiaomi, launched software updates and vehicle recalls on Friday in China's largest-ever automotive recall campaign. Most of the actions, classified as product recalls under Chinese regulations, address concerns that emergency mechanical door release handles may be difficult to locate or operate during emergencies. Nine of the 11 automakers, including Tesla and Xiaomi, will install warning labels free of charge to identify the handles, while most will also deploy over-the-air software updates. Tesla's remedy includes warning labels and an OTA update that automatically lowers vehicle windows after a collision.

Regulatory Pressure

The sweeping campaign comes as Beijing steps up oversight of the EV industry and introduces tougher safety requirements. China is set to ban concealed or hidden door handles from 2027, becoming the first country to phase out a design popularised by Tesla and widely adopted by domestic EV makers. The design, which allows doors to be opened using a key fob, smartphone or a press-operated mechanism, has attracted regulatory scrutiny in China and the United States.

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Eleven carmakers launch China's largest recall over EV door handles

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Eleven carmakers launch China's largest recall over EV door handles

Key Facts

Recall Scope

Regulatory Pressure

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