Government regulators have spent the last year asking serious questions about Tesla’s electronic, retractable door handles
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The handles have been blamed, in the US and in China, for making it difficult for passengers to quickly exit vehicles and for impeding rescue efforts.
Key facts
- The recall affects some vehicles imported between 2019 and 2026
- Separately, the Chinese government recalled nearly 50,000 imported Tesla Model 3s, Xs, and S’s for insufficiently monitoring drivers using the US automakers' assisted steering technology
- The Chinese government simultaneously recalled more than 1 million vehicles manufactured by eight Chinese automakers, also for safety concerns related to flush door handles
- In 2021, a government agency issued regulations more tightly governing the operations of autonomous vehicles, even before that tech had widely hit the road; another agency that same year created
Summary
Government regulators have spent the last year asking serious questions about Tesla’s electronic, retractable door handles, a cool-looking automotive design flourish that has since been imitated by plenty of competitors. Now the door handles have led to Tesla’s largest recall ever—and China’s. Some of the affected vehicles will be made safer with an over-the-air software update that lowers windows after collisions, making it easier for passengers to get out in an emergency. The Chinese government simultaneously recalled more than 1 million vehicles manufactured by eight Chinese automakers, also for safety concerns related to flush door handles.