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China launches record recall of more than 4 million EVs
The recall is tied to upcoming China rules that require cars to have mechanical door releases accessible from inside and outside, after concerns that hidden handles can delay emergency exits.
China has announced its biggest ever car recall, affecting more than four million vehicles, with Tesla among the most impacted brands, BBC Business reports. The recall centers on hidden, electronically powered door handles commonly used on EVs and hybrids in China.
The move comes ahead of new Chinese regulations requiring mechanical release mechanisms on both the inside and outside of car doors. The outlet says these hidden handles, designed to create a sleeker look and reduce wind drag, have also drawn safety concerns after incidents where doors were slow to open following crashes.
Car industry analyst Stephen Dyer, from consultancy AlixPartners, told the BBC that hidden handles can be difficult to locate on the inside of unfamiliar vehicles. Nanyang Technological University associate professor Lyu Chen added that door handles are safety critical in the seconds after a crash.
The story also points to prior scrutiny faced by Xiaomi following two fatal crashes in 2025 involving its SU7 model, where suspected electrical failures allegedly trapped occupants. Xiaomi had said at the time that the SU7 included mechanical emergency release handles that work without power, and newer models now include door handles that can be opened without power, BBC Business reports.