Nearly three million Teslas recalled in China over hidden door handles - BBC News

Other brands affected by the recall include Chinese carmakers XPeng, Xiaomi and Geely.

Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesByOsmond ChiaBusiness reporterPublished24 August 2026, 04:27 BSTUpdated 06:01 BSTMinimalistic door handles became a signature feature of electric vehicles (EVs), but the controversial designs are now at the centre of China's biggest car recall, affecting more than 4 million vehicles.

The recall, which includes 2.98 million Chinese-made Teslas, follows safety concerns that the hidden door handles are difficult to locate and open in emergency situations.

Other brands affected by the recall include Chinese carmakers XPeng, Xiaomi and Geely.

The recalled vehicles will have a warning label stuck on the interior door and receive a software update to automatically lower the windows in a crash.

The designs have come under scrutiny after two fatal crashes in China involving Xiaomi EVs, in which power failures were suspected to have prevented doors from being opened.