Tesla and ten other automakers have recalled nearly 4.3 million vehicles in China after regulators raised concerns that hidden, electronically operated door handles could become difficult or impossible to open in an emergency, particularly if a crash disables the vehicle's electrical system. Reuters reports this is China's largest-ever automotive recall, and it comes as Beijing prepares to ban concealed door handles outright from 2027, requiring all vehicles to have mechanical releases operable without power on both the interior and exterior of every door.

Tesla accounts for the bulk of the recall, with almost 3 million imported and domestically produced Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X vehicles affected; it will fit free warning labels to identify the handles, as will eight of the other manufacturers, including Xiaomi. Several firms are also rolling out software updates to automatically lower windows after a collision, aiding escape or rescue. The move follows real-world incidents, including a fatal crash involving a Xiaomi sedan in which bystanders could not open the doors to free the trapped driver, and comes as US regulators separately investigate Tesla's door handles; Tesla design chief Franz von Holzhausen has said the firm is exploring a combined electric-and-manual release button.