Tesla recalls 3M vehicles in China over doorhandle, driver monitor

Tesla is recalling about 3 million vehicles in China to fix two separate safety defects, adding pressure as it battles intensifying competition from local rivals.

The larger recall covers electronically operated flush door handles. In severe collisions, the vehicle's low-voltage system can fail, preventing the doors from opening and blocking escape or rescue, Tesla said in a notice published Friday alongside China's product safety regulator.

could hinder occupants from quickly opening the doors to escape and impede rescue efforts by those outside the vehicle, posing a safety hazard.

Tesla plans to affix warning labels to affected vehicles and update window control software so the windows automatically lower after a crash detection. The recall covers Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X vehicles built between March 2019 and April 2026, including imports and China-made units.

The second recall addresses the driver attention monitoring system used with partially automated features like autosteer. Tesla said it would push a free over-the-air software update that adds in-cabin camera monitoring alongside steering-wheel torque sensors to keep drivers engaged. For vehicles that cannot take the software update, service centers will contact owners for repairs, the company said. This recall applies to China-made Model 3 and Model Y vehicles built between March 2019 and December 2025.

The recalls come as Tesla's sales in China show signs of strain. The company delivered 25,158 Model Y units in July, down 18% from a year earlier, according to China Passenger Car Association data. Local rivals BYD and Xiaomi are winning customers with cheaper and more innovative electric cars. The flush door handles Tesla helped popularize are also used by Xiaomi, Geely and other automakers that issued their own recalls in China on Friday. Deaths tied to malfunctioning door handles have prompted Chinese regulators to push for wider changes, leading to recalls across nine automakers.

In the U.S., the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in July it would begin the process to establish a new federal rule requiring a more robust door egress system in all vehicles, according to a regulatory filing. Tesla did not respond to a request for comment.