China has ordered a recall of more than 4 million vehicles over hidden door handle safety risks, led by Tesla. The move sharpens regulatory pressure on EV makers as Beijing prepares to ban such handles from next year.

Chinese authorities have announced a major recall of more than 4 million vehicles over safety concerns, mostly linked to car door handles. Tesla accounts for the biggest share, with about 2.98 million China-made and imported electric vehicles being recalled.

Other Chinese carmakers, including Xiaomi, Leapmotor, Geely and XPENG, are also recalling vehicles for similar reasons. Chinese media said it is the largest recall this year, and it comes amid tighter scrutiny of hidden or flush door handles used widely in electric vehicles.

According to China’s State Administration for Market Regulation, Tesla’s recall covers the Model 3, Model Y, Model X and Model S. In a notice on the regulator’s website, it said that in extreme situations, such as a severe collision that causes an electrical system failure, the handles could stop users from quickly opening the doors to escape or prevent rescuers outside from getting access to the vehicle.

The regulator said Tesla will carry out software updates on the affected vehicles to reduce the risks. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.

Xiaomi, the Beijing-based technology company, is recalling more than 390,000 vehicles, while Hangzhou-based Leapmotor is recalling over 370,000 cars. Other Chinese carmakers, including Geely and XPENG, are also recalling some vehicles. The reasons given in each case were similar and were largely related to issues with car door handles.

China has recently stepped up scrutiny of hidden car door handles after electric vehicle accidents in China and elsewhere in which hidden electronic doors failed and people were trapped inside. The recall comes a few months after Chinese authorities said in February that hidden car door handles, commonly seen on Tesla vehicles and many Chinese EV models, would be banned from next year.

A report published by the People’s Daily, the official newspaper of China’s ruling Communist Party, said the large-scale recall “serves as a unified safety upgrade” for existing vehicle models ahead of the 2027 implementation of the ban on hidden car door handles. “For the rapidly evolving NEV (new energy vehicle) industry, competition should be defined not only by the pace of technological innovation but also by the high standards set for safety,” the newspaper said.

Overall, the recall covers more than 4 million vehicles, led by Tesla, as Chinese regulators and manufacturers move to address safety concerns surrounding hidden door handles and emergency access.

With PTI Inputs