Chinese regulators have ordered Tesla to fix nearly 2.98 million Model 3 and Model Y vehicles over concerns that occupants could become trapped inside if the cars lose power in an emergency, as electronically controlled door handles have been linked to fatal crashes when people could not escape burning vehicles. The move reflects a broader crackdown by Chinese authorities on electronic door mechanisms, though new handle-design rules taking effect next year will not apply retroactively to existing models like the 3 and Y until the end of 2028, meaning older cars still need remedial action now.

Tesla must add warning labels inside affected vehicles explaining how to open the rear doors manually, a fix requiring physical access to each car, alongside a software update that automatically lowers all windows in the event of a collision. Separately, Tesla faces a second recall covering 2.74 million vehicles to update the driver monitoring system, switching from a steering-wheel torque sensor to camera-based gaze tracking to confirm driver attentiveness — though Electrek has reported that some Chinese owners have previously bypassed the camera system using a doll's head.