Following a ban on concealed doors on electric vehicles in China enacted in February, Tesla and other Chinese EV makers filed recall notices with the State Administration for Market Regulation covering about 4.3 million cars.
Tesla is leading the move with the recall of about 2.98 million vehicles, noting that it will provide over-the-air software updates to address the issue.
Tesla's recall covers domestically produced Model 3 and Model Y units, along with imported Model S, Model X, and Model 3 vehicles. The emergency mechanical door handles are "difficult to identify and operate because their color is similar to the interior trim," and could "hinder occupants from quickly opening the doors to escape and impede rescue efforts by those outside the vehicle, posing a safety hazard," the SAMR said.
The US-headquartered automaker said it will affix warning labels free of charge to vehicles within the recall scope.
Xiaomi (HKG:1810) will recall 390,435 of its units, and Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology (HKG:9863) will recall 371,200. XPeng (HKG:9868) will fix 264,842 cars.
Geely Automobile's (HKG: 0175) Zeekr will repair 92,658 units, while Chery Automobile (HKG: 9973) will fix 68,488. Dongfeng Motor (HKG: 0489) will recall 53,452, BAIC Motor (HKG: 1958) will see 46,850 units repaired, and FAW will recall 11,908 units.
The ban, first announced in February and taking effect on Jan. 1, 2027, will require EV makers to equip mechanical release systems on car doors. Automakers with already-approved automatic concealed door models have two years to change their designs, the industry ministry said at the time.
The safety rule was introduced following several crashes where power failures prevented rescuers from opening the automatic doors, Bloomberg reported.
Among those crashes was a Xiaomi electric sedan, which caught fire in an early-morning crash in Chengdu, China, back in October 2025.
This marks China's largest automotive recall to date, multiple media reports said.
