More than 4 million cars recalled in China over hidden door handles

China has announced the largest vehicle recall related to the design of hidden door handles.

The campaign will affect more than 4 million vehicles, including nearly 3 million Chinese-made Tesla cars, as well as models from a number of local automakers.

The recall was prompted by safety concerns about the design, which may make it difficult for passengers and rescuers to access the vehicle's interior in an emergency. In addition to Tesla, the campaign covers vehicles from the Chinese companies XPeng, Xiaomi and Geely

Hidden door handles became widespread in the automotive industry after such solutions appeared in Tesla models. These elements are integrated directly into the surface of the door and usually extend when the owner approaches or after a certain mechanism is activated.

The design came under scrutiny after two fatal traffic accidents in China involving Xiaomi electric vehicles. It is believed that in both cases problems with the vehicle's power supply may have prevented the doors from opening after the crash.

Tesla separately announced the recall of some Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X vehicles manufactured in China. The company stated that under certain conditions the door handles may not be sufficiently noticeable to passengers because their color is similar to the vehicle's interior trim. This, in turn, may increase the time needed to open the door after a serious collision, especially if the vehicle's low-voltage system fails.

To address the problem, Tesla intends to place special warning stickers on the vehicles. In addition, the company plans to release a software update that will automatically lower the windows after a collision to facilitate access to the vehicle.

It is not yet known whether similar recall campaigns will be carried out outside China.

Source: BBC