In China, more than 40 lakh vehicles of many big electric car companies including Tesla are being recalled. The main concern regarding these vehicles is related to their door handles. According to Chinese officials, if the door handles do not function properly during a serious accident, the occupants of the vehicle may find it difficult to get out.
**Tesla will recall approximately 3 million cars**
According to China's market regulator, Tesla is recalling about 29.8 lakh cars. This number includes both vehicles made in China and imported from other countries. Affected models include the Model 3, Model Y, Model X, and Model S. The main reason for the recall of these cars is due to safety concerns related to the specific type of door handles used in them; Many Tesla vehicles have handles that pop out when needed, but remain almost flush with the body of the car during normal use.
**Why might the risk increase at the time of an accident?**
Chinese officials said that if a car's electrical system is damaged in a serious accident, the electronic door mechanism could also be affected. In such a situation, the occupants of the vehicle may find it difficult to open the doors and get out of the vehicle. Additionally, if passengers are unable to get out on their own, rescue workers trying to help from outside may also have difficulty opening the doors. As a result, China is investigating these “hidden” or flush-mounted door handles.
**Cars of other companies also affected**
This problem is not limited to Tesla; Many other Chinese electric car companies have also decided to recall their vehicles. Beijing-based tech company Xiaomi is recalling more than 3,90,000 cars, while Leapmotor is recalling more than 3,70,000 vehicles. Apart from this, similar problems have also been found in vehicles of companies like Geely and XPENG.
**Tesla will reduce risk through software updates**
According to the Chinese regulator, Tesla will resolve this issue by releasing software updates for the affected vehicles. The purpose of this is to reduce the risks associated with door handles. This is the biggest recall of vehicles in China this year. Experts believe that along with new technology, safety should also be given equal priority in electric cars.
**China is cracking down on flush door handles**
China is already preparing to tighten regulations on flush-mounted electronic door handles. There are plans to ban such designs from next year. This step is being taken after some accidents in which people were trapped in their cars due to non-functioning of electronic door mechanisms. This situation clearly shows that new technology and great design are not enough for electric cars; Safety of passengers should be of utmost importance for any vehicle.