In brief
Tesla has recalled just under 3 million models manufactured in China over a flaw in its hidden door handles. The design, which retracts into the door panel, can be hard to spot and may fail in emergencies, prompting safety calls from regulators. Other Chinese brands, including XPeng, Xiaomi and Geely, joined the recall, raising questions about the widespread use of the feature. New Chinese rules will require visible door handles on all cars sold from 1 January 2027.
Nearly 3 million vehicles, mainly Teslas, have been recalled in China after a safety review found hidden door handles could obstruct emergency exits.
\The recall covers 2.98 million Chinese‑produced models of Tesla’s Model 3, Y, S and X. Other domestic makers—including XPeng, Xiaomi and Geely—joined the program because they use the same retractable design.
\The handles were engineered to sit flush with the door’s interior trim, extending only when a person approaches the vehicle. In China, the color match can make the handle invisible, which regulators say could delay the opening of a car door in a crash or power loss.
\The decision comes after two fatal accidents that involved Xiaomi electric cars, where investigators suspected that tripped power systems prevented doors from opening. The incidents highlight a risk that the hidden handles can shut down when the key’s electrical circuit fails.
\Tesla said it would add conspicuous warning labels, and it is rolling out a software patch that will lower every window in the event of a collision. The company did not confirm whether a similar recall will be carried out outside of China.
\China’s consumer watchdog announced a ban on hidden door handles, effective 1 January 2027. The new law requires all vehicles to have a mechanical door release that can be opened from both the interior and exterior.
\In the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into Tesla’s door handle system after reports of children being trapped by doors that could not be opened. NHTSA is also considering formal safety standards for all carmakers that integrate such concealed mechanisms.
\Both the Chinese and U.S. regulators now urge automakers to rethink the deployment of reflex‑in‑the‑door design, underscoring a growing global push for safer, more transparent vehicle features.
