Nearly 3 Million Teslas Recalled in China Over Door Handles

Tesla is recalling nearly three million vehicles in China due to concerns over hidden door handles, according to a report from the BBC. The recall highlights growing scrutiny of a design feature that has become popular among electric vehicle makers.

The door handles in question are built flush into the vehicle's body, a design choice that many manufacturers use to improve aerodynamics and give cars a sleeker appearance. However, this design has reportedly raised safety questions in China.

Tesla is not the only company affected. Chinese carmakers XPeng, Xiaomi, and Geely have also had vehicles included in the recall because of similar hidden door handle designs.

Xiaomi, traditionally known as a consumer electronics company, has expanded into the electric vehicle market in recent years. Geely and XPeng are established Chinese automakers with a significant presence in the domestic market.

China represents one of Tesla's most important markets outside the United States, making a recall of this scale particularly notable for the company's operations there.

A vehicle recall typically requires manufacturers to inspect, repair, or replace faulty components at no cost to the vehicle owner. Recalls are often triggered when a regulator or the manufacturer itself identifies a potential safety risk.

The fact that multiple brands are affected suggests that the issue may stem from a broader design trend rather than a problem unique to a single manufacturer. As hidden door handles have become a popular styling choice among electric vehicle makers seeking a modern, minimalist look, this recall may prompt closer scrutiny of the design across the industry.

The scale of the recall, covering millions of vehicles, underscores how widely such handle designs have been adopted in China's fast-growing electric vehicle sector, and raises questions about how safety testing is conducted before these features reach the market.