China recalls 4.3 million vehicles over door handle safety risks

China has issued a massive automotive recall affecting over 4.3 million vehicles due to safety concerns regarding electronic pop-out door handles. The recall involves nine manufacturers, including Tesla, Geely, Dongfeng, Xiaomi, Chery, Beijing Automotive, FAW, Leapmotor, and Xpeng.

The primary risk involves the difficulty of exiting a vehicle following an accident. If a collision causes a loss of low-voltage power, the electronic door opening systems may fail. In some models, the manual emergency release levers are difficult to locate because they are similar in color to the interior trim, which could delay occupant evacuation and hinder rescue efforts.

Tesla is the most heavily impacted manufacturer, with approximately 2.98 million vehicles—including Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X—subject to the recall. To mitigate these risks, affected vehicles will receive labels clearly indicating the location and use of the emergency release. Tesla will also provide a software update designed to automatically lower windows following an accident to assist in emergency situations.