Why nearly three million Teslas are being recalled in China - BBC News
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Minimalistic Retractable Door Handles Recalled in China
By Osmond Chia, Business Reporter
Published 24 August 2026, 04:27 BST
Updated 33 minutes ago
Minimalistic retractable door handles, a signature feature of electric vehicles (EVs), are now at the centre of China's biggest car recall, affecting more than 4 million vehicles. The recall includes 2.98 million Chinese-made Teslas, due to safety concerns that the hidden handles are difficult to locate and open in emergency situations.
Other affected brands include XPeng, Xiaomi, and Geely. This design, popularized by multi-billionaire Elon Musk's Tesla, is designed to tuck seamlessly within the car's door panel and extend outwards upon owner approach.
The issue gained scrutiny following two fatal crashes in China involving Xiaomi EVs, where power failures were suspected to have prevented door opening.
Tesla acknowledged the problem, stating that certain Model 3, Y, S, and X vehicles are being recalled due to handles that "are difficult to identify and operate because their colour is similar to the interior trim." This could hinder occupants or rescuers from swiftly opening doors in emergencies like severe collisions causing low-voltage system failures.
Tesla plans to place warning labels on affected vehicles and implement a software update to automatically lower windows after a collision. However, expert Tu Le notes that this is more of a temporary solution than a lasting fix.
The use of hidden handles has spread rapidly since Chinese brands swiftly adopted Tesla's "sleek" look for their models. In February, China announced a ban on such handles, effective January 1, 2027. New rules will require cars to have mechanical releases on both inside and outside doors for sale in China.
Tesla's door handles were also probed by US safety regulators after reports of sudden malfunction, trapping children inside. In July, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggested creating a new formal standard for all carmakers.