China’s market regulator ordered the recall of 4.3 million vehicles on safety grounds tied to emergency door-release systems, the largest such action in the world’s biggest car market.
The recall affects nine automakers, including Tesla, Xiaomi and Leapmotor, after authorities determined that emergency buttons or levers inside some models were difficult to locate during power failures. Automakers will attach clearer labels to the mechanisms and deploy over-the-air software updates to lower windows automatically in emergencies.
The move follows a February ban on exterior electronic door handles that lack traditional manual release mechanisms, a rule that will apply to new models starting next year. The decision underscores China’s push to assert regulatory leadership in advanced vehicle technology as electric vehicles account for nearly 55% of new car sales in the country.
Regulatory scrutiny extends beyond China. In the U.S., the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reviewing a petition to investigate emergency door-release issues in about 180,000 Tesla Model 3 vehicles, though the agency has indicated the matter may be addressed through rule-making rather than a defect investigation. European regulators flagged door-handle designs as a key risk priority last year, and California previously found Tesla violated state law by using the term “autopilot” in marketing.
Safety incidents have amplified concerns. Chinese state media reported in October that a driver of a Xiaomi SU7 sedan died in a crash and fire after bystanders were unable to open the doors to rescue him. In the U.S., lawsuits and complaints to the NHTSA allege that Tesla’s door-handle designs have contributed to injuries or deaths when occupants became trapped in burning vehicles or were unable to retrieve children from cars.
Analysts say China’s assertive approach contrasts with slower-moving regulatory processes elsewhere. Pedro Pacheco, vice president of research at Gartner, noted that “China is, bit by bit, approaching regulatory leadership for advanced vehicle tech.” Bill Russo, CEO of Shanghai-based advisory firm Automobility, said the shift reflects a transition “from rapid EV innovation and feature proliferation toward a much more assertive safety-regulation phase,” adding that Tesla may need to reconsider its global door-handle design given China’s market influence. Michael Brooks, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety in Washington, D.C., highlighted bureaucratic delays in the U.S., stating, “There are so many ways for a regulation to get thwarted, changed, withdrawn by an incoming administration... These are the kind of delays you would never see in China.”
