China's market regulator has ordered a recall of more than 2.9 million Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles built in the country between 2019 and 2026, marking Tesla's largest-ever recall and China's biggest to date. The action targets the cars' electronic, flush-fitting door handles, which regulators and crash victims' families in both the US and China say can trap occupants and hinder rescue efforts after collisions, particularly when a vehicle's low-voltage battery fails and disables the electronic release.

Some affected vehicles will receive a free over-the-air software update that automatically lowers windows after a crash, while others will get free warning stickers to help occupants locate and use the mechanical backup handles, which are currently hard to spot as they blend in with the interior trim. Separately, China recalled over 1 million vehicles from eight domestic manufacturers, including Xiaomi and Geely, for similar door-handle concerns, and nearly 50,000 imported Tesla Model 3, S and X cars over inadequate driver monitoring during use of assisted steering. China has also introduced new rules that will soon ban fully retractable door handles outright, while US regulators are only beginning to examine the issue.